Salem Maritime National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Massachusetts. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Salem Maritime
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Salem Maritime. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Salem Maritime the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:36 PM | 242° | 9h 24m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 254° | 10h 34m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:50 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:03 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:25 PM | 284° | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:59 PM | 297° | 14h 36m |
| June | 5:06 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:23 PM | 304° | 15h 17m |
| July | 5:20 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:20 PM | 301° | 15h 00m |
| August | 5:51 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:47 PM | 290° | 13h 56m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 7:01 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:55 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:03 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:18 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:23 PM | 246° | 9h 47m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:12 PM | 239° | 9h 05m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.5202, -70.8864); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Salem Maritime, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:15 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:17 AM – 4:17 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:28 AM – 3:18 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:39 PM – 2:49 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:28 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:35 PM – 11:25 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:32 PM – 9:22 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
New England weather is unpredictable year-round. Monthly averages, in degrees Fahrenheit, are: January: 37 high, 20 low February: 40 high, 23 low March: 47 high, 30 low April: 57 high, 38 low May: 67 high, 48 low June: 76 high, 58 low July: 82 high, 63 low August: 80 high, 62 low September: 73 high, 55 low October: 62 high, 45 low November: 52 high, 37 low December: 42 high, 27 low
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (70%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Salem Maritime National Historical Park is located in downtown Salem, Massachusetts and is accessible by vehicle, commuter rail, bus, ferry, and recreational boat.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
MA
MA
MA
MA
MA
MA