Salem Common actively highlights the connections it contains to various eras of the community. Located just outside of downtown Salem, Massachusetts, the 8-acre public park has cultivated numerous features that highlight how what might otherwise be an unremarkable greenspace instead celebrates various pieces of history that are connected to the local community and the wider nation.
Recognized as the Birthplace of the U.S. National Guard
Originally a parcel of swampy land used for livestock grazing, what would become Salem Common was first used for training by the East Regiment of the Massachusetts Bay colony militia in 1637. The area where this training was first held is celebrated with a commemorative marker. This history is connected to the beginnings of the National Guard, which the United States recognized in 2013 by designating Salem as the birthplace of the U.S. National Guard.
In 1801, an endeavor to upgrade Salem Common with walkways, a wooden fence and ornamental gates changed the space in a positive way. One gate featured a carved wooden medallion of George Washington that served as a major attraction for the park. The wooden fence was replaced in 1850 with a cast iron fence that eliminated the gates. In 1976, to honor the nation’s Bicentennial, a small-scale replica of the famous gate was constructed. A marker that lists the names of all the people from Salem who sacrificed their lives in conflicts from World War II through the War on Terror would eventually be installed nearby.
The Salem Common Bandstand was constructed in 1926 to commemorate Salem’s Tercentenary. In 1974, the city dedicated the bandstand to Jean Missud, who founded the Salem Cadet Band in 1878 and led the group for 63 years.
With spacious walkways and large open green areas, Salem Common is an ideal spot for picnics and walks as well as a place where the community can gather for organized sports and other events. These happenings take place in the midst of landmarks that celebrate the history of Salem and the United States as a whole, attracting audiences from all over the region for a variety of reasons.
Engaging with Pieces of History
Monuments of all types celebrate the history they contain in profound ways but few do so while also enabling experiences with the community the present. As the heart of the Salem Common National Register District and the Washington Square Local Historic District, Salem Common cultivates a connection for audiences with the past and present of the city. Doing so has allowed everyone to engage with the history it contains just as easily as they can with the natural beauty of the space.
