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Poetry, Purpose, and Promise: Inside Salem’s 2026 Inauguration
Mayor Pangallo begins second term at PEM ceremony as poets and performers frame the moment—and the creative sector speaks without being named. On a Monday morning in January, just days before Salem’s official 400+ anniversary kickoff, the city inaugurated its 2026 leadership the way this city does so many things: surrounded by art, grounded in history, and looking resolutely forward.
Salem Poetry Events: Poet Laureate’s Book Launch at PEM
Salem poetry events are flourishing as the city approaches its 400th anniversary celebration. On Sunday, January 11, the city’s first Poet Laureate, J.D. Scrimgeour, will launch his new book at the Peabody Essex Museum. This special reading marks nearly three decades of literary engagement with Salem. For poetry lovers and community members alike, it’s a meaningful moment. Salem’s First Poet
Baker’s Island Light Restoration Saves 200-Year-Old Treasure
When maritime history meets community spirit, remarkable things happen. The recent Baker’s Island Light restoration project proves this perfectly. Additionally, this $30,000 preservation effort has saved one of America’s oldest lighthouses from structural decline. Through generous donations and expert craftsmanship, Essex Heritage has completed critical masonry work on the 1820 lighthouse. Furthermore, the project addressed urgent needs in both the
PEM Joins Salem 400+ Celebration: Connecting Past, Present, and Future Through Art and History
As Salem prepares to commemorate its quadricentennial in 2026, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) has announced an impressive slate of exhibitions and programming that will enrich the Salem 400+ celebration. These initiatives perfectly embody the core mission of Salem 400+ to honor our past, celebrate our present, and envision our future by weaving together the diverse stories of our community
