Due to the evolving circumstances related to COVID-19, specifically the Delta variant, this event will now need to be totally virtual.

We apologize for this change of plans and appreciate your understanding!  All existing in-person registrations have been changed to virtual.

PROGRAM

September 13-14, 2021

The City of Salem's Preservation Partners, together with Keeping History Above Water, a national initiative of the Newport Restoration Foundation, will host a two-day event in Salem focused on addressing climate change impacts to historic resources.

You can choose to attend in-person at the Peabody Essex Museum, Morse Auditorium or virtually via a live-stream.

During the month of September you are also invited to visit the Exhibit: 

Changing Climate on Derby Wharf: Exhibit of historic Images of a changing climate and current climate change maps

Located in the National Park Service Regional Visitors Center, 2 New Liberty Street

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Welcoming Remarks & Keynote Address
To attend register for Session 1

7:00 - 9:00PM             Welcome

Steven Mallory, Manager of Historic Structures and Landscapes, PEM

Mark Thompson, Executive Director, Newport Restoration Foundation/Keeping History Above Water

Senator Joan Lovely, Member, Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change

Climate Change on a Local Level

Barbara Warren, Executive Director, Salem Sound Coastwatch

KEYNOTE
             Flood Adaptation Strategies in the Nation’s Oldest Historic District

Erin Minnigan, Director of Historic Preservation, Preservation Society of Charleston, S.C. 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Exploring climate change impacts and tools to protect historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods.

 To attend register for Session 2

9:00am                                 WELCOME – OVERVIEW OF DAY’S EVENTS

Steven Mallory, Manager of Historic Structures and Landscapes, Peabody Essex Museum

9:15-10:30am                     EVERYDAY ADAPTATIONS: MAKING BUILT ENVIRONMENT MORE RESILIENT     

Steven Mallory, Manager of Historic Structures and Landscapes, Peabody Essex Museum

Rodney Rowland, Director of Facilities and Environmental Sustainability, Strawbery Banke

Richard McGuinness, Deputy Director for Climate Change and Environmental Planning, Boston Planning and Development Agency

10:45-11:45am                   PRESERVATION IN A CHANGING CLIMATE - SALEM CASE STUDIES & ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY

Dr. Keith Ratner, Chair, Department of Geography and Sustainability, Salem State University  

Dr. Marcos Luna, Department of Geography and Sustainability, Salem State University

Joshua Earley, Salem State University Student Presentation: Modeling the Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Salem's Historic Resources

Jenna Ide, Director of Capital Projects & Municipal Operations, City of Salem

11:45am-12pm                  WRAP UP – LOOKING FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 2022

Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, City of Salem

To attend this tour register for Session 3

1:30-2:30pm                       WALKING TOUR – SALEM’S INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE ALONG A CHANGING SHORELINE 

Vijay Joyce, Rekindled History

Barbara Warren, Executive Director, Salem Sound Coastwatch

To attend this tour register for Session 4                                                

3:30-4:30pm                        WALKING TOUR - SALEM’S COLONIAL MARITIME SITES & RISING TIDES

David Moffat, Lead Researcher and Senior Tour Guide, The House of the Seven Gables

                                        Barbara Warren, Executive Director, Salem Sound Coastwatch        

This first annual conference will raise awareness of and discuss adaptation strategies to address climate change impacts on Salem’s historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods.

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. Identifying and implementing adaptation tools for historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods to increase resiliency from rising sea level, groundwaters and increased storm intensity is critical. The release of the Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model inundation maps for Salem for 2030, 2050 and 2070 further emphasized that flooding of historic neighborhoods and properties will continue and increase (see https://www.salemsound.org/climateAdaptSALEM.html).  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.  Salem’s Preservation Partners is a group of historic preservation organizations that gather bi-monthly to discuss issues and activities pertinent to the community. Hosted by the City of Salem’s Planning and Community Development Department, the Partners include the Pickering House, the Peabody Essex Museum, the House of the Seven Gables, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Historic New England, the National Park Service, Historic Salem, Hamilton Hall, the Salem Athenaeum, Destination Salem, Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery and many more. 

Since 2016, the Newport Restoration Foundation has held Keeping History Above Water conferences in coastal communities throughout the United States to focus on “the increasing and varied risks posed by sea level rise to historic coastal communities and their built environments. These conferences focus on what preservationists, engineers, city planners, legislators, insurers, historic home owners and other decision-makers need to know about climate change, sea level rise in particular, and what can be done to protect historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods from the increasing threat of inundation (https://historyabovewater.org/about/).” The conferences provide a starting point for communities to begin planning for the complex issues of climate change and historic preservation.

The Steering Committee for Salem's Keeping History Above Water event includes representatives from: City of Salem, Essex Heritage, Historic New England, Historic Salem, Inc., National Park Service, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Sound Coast Watch, Salem State University and The House of the Seven Gables.