What’s open and closed in Salem during the government shutdown

Local News

Despite several closures due to the federal government shutdown, no seasonal activities will be impacted.

Despite the federal government shutdown closing the National Park Service (NPS) properties nationwide, the City of Salem has rallying to keep the NPS Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center open through its busiest season.

Ashley Judge, the executive director of Destination Salem confirmed with Boston.com that no seasonal activities, including Halloween Happenings events, will be impacted.

Key facilities – including the NPS Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center, Central Wharf, and Artist Row bathrooms – will remain open, ensuring visitors will have full access to restrooms and visitor information this season.

Visitors will still miss out on other NPS sites though, including Salem’s historic homes, the Custom House, and the Friendship of Salem tall ship, all of which will remain closed. The Waite & Peirce store is also closed, and all NPS-led programs and tours are on pause.

“We miss our rangers and our partners at the National Park Service, but we pulled together to take care of our city and our visitors this month,” Judge wrote in an e-mail to Boston.com.

The NPS Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center will be open seven days a week from 9:30na.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Nov. 2, or until the end of the federal shutdown. It was temporarily closed from Oct. 1 to Oct. 6.

Judge credited the “tireless coordination” of the City of Salem, the leadership of Essex Heritage, and the Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Eastern National for keeping the center open.

“Even in a federal shutdown, Salem shows up,” Judge wrote.