FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2024
The House of the Seven Gables to Share Climate Adaptations Research
Salem, MA (June 11, 2024) – On Thursday, June 13, the public is invited to The House of the Seven Gables for a special presentation, “The Gables and Climate Change: What’s Next?” Director of Preservation and Maintenance Paul Wright and Collections Manager Susan Baker will be joined by Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Salem Sound Coastwatch, and Kara Babcock, Associate Principal at Union Studio to review findings from a two-year investigation into climate impacts at The House of the Seven Gables. Future plans for climate adaptations and resiliency will also be discussed.
In 2022, The House of the Seven Gables received a Coastal Resiliency grant from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to study future climate impacts on its historic buildings and campus. Throughout the two-year project, The Gables partnered with Salem Sound Coast Watch, Union Studio, Horsley Witten Group, and Collins Engineers to collect data, evaluate and repair coastal structures, and develop a plan to preserve The Gables and its other historic structures for generations to come. The grant was the first in the state to be awarded to a nonprofit museum like The Gables, and the research will become a model for similar institutions in the region.
Thursday’s presentation will briefly review the issues identified during the study and explore potential solutions to be implemented over time. Wright and Baker will provide background on why they pursued this project, Warren will speak to climate change issues affecting the coastline, and Babcock will present some of the Gables-specific recommendations for response and mitigation.
“This climate adaptation report will serve as the roadmap for The Gables for the next five decades through a period of unprecedented change,” said Wright. “Our hope is that The Gables and its legacy will outlast this change, but we will likely have to fundamentally alter our campus in response to it.”
“As a high priority notable historic resource along with the Derby Street Historic District, The Gables aligns with City of Salem’s action plan to conduct risk assessments and plan for climate resilience,” said Warren. “The Gables is a role model to other preservationists and the local community as it shares their increased knowledge of the climate risks and develops relocation plans for buildings and assets. Salem Sound Coastwatch commends these actions.”
To register for “The Gables and Climate Change: What’s Next?” visit 7Gables.org/events
About The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association
The mission of The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association is to be a welcoming, thriving, historic site and community resource that engages people of all backgrounds in our inclusive American story. For more information visit www.7gables.org