Salem Marine Society


"Where Virtue Reigns, the Unfortunate Find Relief"
Benjamin Upton #295
The Society holds its quarterly meetings at the historic Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. These meetings are not open to the public.

The Society also holds an annual dinner in the fall and occasionally other special events throughout the year.

Pictured here is Benjamin Upton, who was a privateer captain during the War of 1812 and Master of the Society from 1838 until his death in 1853.
May 8th, 2017-- 14 Society Members and 4 guests enjoyed an extremely extensive and informative tour of the dry-docked USS Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard
US Navy historian of the USS Constitution, Margharita Desy guides the tour.
June 9th, 2017- Through the generosity of Captain Michael Rutstein (994) eighteen Society members and guests sailed on The Fifteenth Annual Cruise on Fame. Actually, it was more motoring than sailing as there was a paucity of breeze.
Some members joined the crew in "Pully Hauly"
Baker's Island where on July 28, 1791 a "...beacon...was raised by a large & jovial party of our Mariners {Society members}"  The Society lobbied Congress to erect a lighthouse and in 1796 President George Washington signed a bill appropriating $6,000 to build a light.
One of the swivels set for Sunset Gun.
Right on cue, Captain Rutstein activated the mechanical Moon.