The Salem Women's Heritage Trail was created in 2000 by local historians, curators, librarians, and interested citizens to remember the women who have contributed to the development of Salem, Massachusetts for over four centuries since colonial times and far beyond when Native Americans occupied "Naumkeag," as Salem was originally called. Salem is known the world over for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but this walking trail discusses many more women's stories.
A guidebookSmith, Bonnie Hurd. Salem Women's Heritage Trail. Salem: Salem Chamber of Commerce, 2000. of this self-guided walk was published in 2000 by local author Bonnie Hurd Smith under the auspices of the Salem Chamber of Commerce.Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Ma. Salem-chamber.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. The trail's kick-off eventSalem Evening News, September 1, 2000 took place at The House of the Seven Gables,The House of The Seven Gables. 7gables.org (September 18, 2011). Retrieved on October 20, 2011. a site on the trail, and featured speeches by Nancy Harrington, the president of Salem State CollegeSalem State University: Salem State Home. Salemstate.edu. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. (Harrington, the first woman president of the college, is on the trail), and trolley tours of the trail with Salem Trolley.Tours of Salem, Massachusetts, North of Boston, MA. Salem Trolley (September 12, 2011). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
Women, subjects, and organizations on the Trail
Some of the women featured on the trail include the famous "Peabody Sisters of Salem," Elizabeth,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. Mary,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. and Sophia,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. who were the subjects of Megan Marshall's 2005 award-winning book.Marshall, Megan. The Peabody Sisters of Salem: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005). Also on the trail are Caroline Emmerton. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. and Caroline Plummer,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. two of Salem's leading philanthropists. Susan Burley,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. a supporter of Nathaniel Hawthorne and literary "force" is featured. Sarah Parker Remond,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. the great abolitionist speaker, is included along with the African American educator Charlotte Forten. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. and artists Louisa Lander. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. and Sarah W. Symonds.. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. Sarah Parker Remond utilized the smuggling tunnels in town that led out of her father's catering business in Hamilton hall to support the Underground Railroad.
Subjects addressed on the trail include suffrage,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. abolition,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. education,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. the arts, business, philanthropy, historic preservation, Native American rights,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. and the Salem Witch Trails.. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
Organizations include the Salem Female Anti-Slavery Society,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. the Salem Woman Suffrage Club,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. the Salem Lyceum Society,. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. and the Salem Women's Indian Association.. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
A number of the women on the Salem trail have a presence on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail, and vice versa. Bostonian Lucy Stone spoke in Salem at Lyceum Hall. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. against slavery and on behalf of woman suffrage. Salem's Sarah Parker Remond'sArticle title first act of public resistance against racism took place in Boston at the Howard Athenaeum.
Both the Salem and Boston trails are featured in the National Collaborative of Women's History Siteshttp://ncwhs.oah.org/index.php?page/mission guidebook and website which include a section on walking trails throughout the United States.
Changes in 2009
In 2009, the Salem Women's Heritage Trail guidebook evolved into a website. Salemwomenshistory.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2011. with information from the guidebook and new additions including the 2005 election of Salem's first woman mayor, Kimberley Driscoll.City of Salem, MA – Mayor Kimberley Driscoll Biography . Salem.com (September 8, 2008). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
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