Friendship of Salem

Friendship is a replica of a three-masted, square rigged “East Indiaman”, the type of merchant ship that made Salem a leader in opening international trade with the Far East, Europe and Russia in the years immediately after the American Revolution. The new Friendship was built through a unique collaboration between volunteers, the greater Salem community, and the National Park Service. More than 25% of the cost of her construction was paid for by private donations from individuals and organizations around the Essex National Heritage Area. During her construction, volunteers worked alongside NPS staff, spending hundreds of hours fashioning her rigging, building the captain’s gig and to fitting out her interior. Today, Friendship’s ambassadorial voyages to ports in New England and most recently New York City are only possible because of the numerous volunteers who assist NPS staff to sail and care for the ship and because of the funds that are raised through the auspices of the Essex National Heritage Commission. For more information about the history of Friendship, visit the Salem Maritime National Historic Site at www.nps.gov/sama.