Preservation in a Changing Climate

Recognizing the ongoing impacts of climate change on historic resources and the need for action to protect these irreplaceable assets, the City of Salem and the Salem Preservation Partners joined together in 2021 to create the Preservation in a Changing Climate initiative.

In 2021, the group held the first annual conference as part of the Keeping History Above Water national initiative to raise awareness of and begin planning for climate change impacts on historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods. This conference included a keynote address by Erin Minnigan who spoke about the efforts underway in Charleston, SC to save their historic buildings threatened by sea level rise. In 2022, the Partners hosted the second annual conference, which focused on tools and strategies to address climate impacts. This conference included an overview of the newly updated Secretary of the Interior Standards for adapting historic buildings to threats from flooding.

The City and the Partners are currently hosting an exhibit on the first floor of the City Hall Annex to highlight current efforts to address climate change impacts on Salem’s historic resources. The exhibit is open to the public during regular City Hall Annex hours.

The North Shore of Boston, including Salem and surrounding communities, is witnessing first-hand the damaging effects of climate change on historic properties and neighborhoods. Coastal and riverine flooding, wind damage, excessive rain and rising humidity and heat all effect the future of our historic resources. To address these changes and protect the region’s historic resources, preservationists, engineers, city planners, legislators, insurers, historic homeowners and other decision-makers will be tasked to identify and implement adaptation tools to make historic buildings and neighborhoods more resilient and sustainable. The Preservation in a Changing Climate conferences will continue to explore and highlight innovative tools including nontraditional solutions, experimental approaches and alternative building materials.

Salem Preservation Partners is a group of historic preservation organizations that gather bi-monthly to discuss issues and activities pertinent to the community. As owners of historic buildings and leaders in the preservation field, Salem’s Preservation Partners formed a subcommittee to help historic properties and neighborhoods plan to adapt to rising sea levels and other climate change challenges. Hosted by the City of Salem’s Planning and Community Development Department, the Partners include the Peabody Essex Museum, the House of the Seven Gables, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Essex National Heritage, Historic New England, the National Park Service, Historic Salem Inc., Destination Salem, and many more.