The CHMM is proud to partner with the Essex National Heritage Area (ENHA) and will feature Annie Harris, CEO of the Essex National Heritage Commission, at the November 1st First Friday lecture. Annie will discuss the origins of the ENHA and the role which regional leaders such as Newburyport Mayor Bryon Matthews played in establishing this new type of “partnership park” in 1996. Annie will also look back on some of the history of the national heritage area including the celebratory visit of the NPS Tall Ship Friendship of Salem to Newburyport in 2006. Since this time, the benefits and the successes of the national heritage area model have spread across the country, and there are now 62 heritage areas including ones in Alaska and the Virgin Islands. In addition to providing the history of the heritage area program, she will discuss the impact that it has had on preservation, education and youth engagement, community and sustainability in Essex County during the past 25+ years. Many of the projects that we enjoy today such as the Border to Boston Rail Trail, the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, and the 200+ free events offered during Trails & Sails; Sails are products of the partnerships fostered by Essex Heritage. If you are interested in learning more about the origins of the national heritage area or how to get involved in programs like Trails & Sails and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we invite you to join us on November 1.

About Essex National Heritage Area and Essex National Heritage Commission. The Essex National Heritage Area was created by an act of Congress in 1996, and it encompasses the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, Massachusetts. Within this NHA there are two National Parks (Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site), the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, 13 state parks plus thousands of acres of conservation land, and numerous museums, historic houses, and other heritage sites.Essex National Heritage Commission is the congressionally designated coordinating entity for the national heritage area’s programs and projects. Essex Heritage has an affiliated relationship with the National Park Service, but it is incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit in Massachusetts.

Annie was a founding member of Essex Heritage and a vocal proponent for the creation of the Essex National Heritage Area. Annie’s background is in city planning, real estate development (with an emphasis on historic preservation), and community economic development. She has served as Executive Director of The Salem Partnership, Senior VP for Bullfinch Development, VP for The Langelier Company, VP for The Crowninshield Corporation, and Assistant City Planner in the City of Lowell, MA. Annie has a Master of Architecture degree from MIT and a MBA from Harvard University. She and her husband live in Salem, MA where they are active in civic and community organizations. They are avid sailors and long-time members of the Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, MA where Annie is a Past Commodore.