Salem is preparing to float a piece of its history across the harbor. Pioneer Village, the recreated 1630s colonial settlement in Forest River Park that doubled as a filming location for the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus, is set to be relocated by barge to higher ground at Salem Willows after this season wraps up, according to city officials.
The move, first reported by MassLive, comes down to elevation and water. Current flood maps show that most of the site would be inundated by a Category 1 storm, per MassLive's report, and the site has sat at Forest River Park for nearly 100 years.
The relocation project, in development since 2017 according to MassLive's reporting, will carry four original 1930 structures to the former Camp Naumkeag site at Salem Willows. The City of Salem says that receiving site sits outside FEMA's special flood hazard areas. The new location would become the village's new home, per the city's materials.
Why a Barge Instead of a Truck
Rather than moving the buildings overland, the city plans to move them by water barge through Salem Harbor. MassLive reports that barge transport was more affordable than trucking the structures overland.
Pioneer Village first opened in 1930, built for the Massachusetts Tercentenary, and is thought to be America's first living history museum, as noted by Pioneer Village. Though it depicts a 1630 colonial settlement, the village was originally constructed for the Massachusetts Tercentenary, per the City of Salem. Today it features thatched-roof cottages, wigwams, and dugouts, and operates seasonally from June to November, depicting 17th-century life for colonial settlers and their interactions with the Naumkeag, the Indigenous population of Salem and the surrounding area, according to MassLive.
A Long-Vacant Camp Gets a Second Life
Camp Naumkeag has not been used since 2020, according to MassLive's reporting. Salem demolished the existing Camp Naumkeag buildings in May, clearing the way for the relocated village.
The relocated site is expected to include a new visitor's center, along with modern code upgrades and accessibility improvements, according to MassLive. Salem officials say the project aims to amplify and better integrate Indigenous stories and voices, with expanded historical exhibits.
Part of a Bigger Anniversary Push
The relocation is one piece of Salem's preparations for its 400th anniversary in 2026, according to the City of Salem.
The stakes behind the move extend beyond one city park. The relocation reflects concerns about sea-level rise and coastal flooding at the current site.
Preservationists Flag the Trade-Offs
The relocation changes the historic setting, even as flood risk is driving the decision.
For now, Pioneer Village remains open at Forest River Park for its current season, still featuring the Governor's Faire House and the rest of its recreated colonial and Naumkeag structures. Once the 2026 season ends, the barge move to Salem Willows is expected to begin, closing out nearly a century at its original waterfront home and opening a new chapter at Salem Willows.
