FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2026
The House of the Seven Gables Awarded $461,000 In Federal Funding
Salem, Mass. – The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association will receive $461,000 to preserve its seaside campus, as one of 209 recipients to share in $221,551,060 of Congressionally Directed Spending for Massachusetts. This federal funding, secured by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), supports critical infrastructure, justice, science, environmental, and rural development projects in Bay State communities. The Gables will use the funds to protect its historic buildings against increased stormwater damage caused by heavy rain, poor grading, and undersized drainage systems.
The House of the Seven Gables is a National Historic Landmark District dating back to 1668, made famous by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Its story spans four centuries of American history, from the early colonial days and maritime age of Salem, through its literary notoriety in the 1800s, to its restoration as a museum and Settlement House in 1910. In addition to the famous House of the Seven Gables (the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion), the campus includes three other colonial-era historic houses and a seaside Colonial Revival garden.
Located directly on Salem Harbor, The Gables’ campus is threatened by sea level rise and climate change. Severe weather events and flooding can damage both buildings and the collections contained within them. Through a Coastal Zone Management grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Gables spent two years creating a climate adaptation plan that outlines both near-term site improvements and long-term actions and decision points.
The federal funding secured by Senators Markey and Warren will allow for the construction of a rain garden, a subsurface infiltration system under the Colonial Revival gardens, a catch basin and drywell near the Hooper-Hathaway House and Hawthorne Birthplace, and a section of permeable pavers on the walkway near the exit. These projects will not only help The Gables preserve its nationally significant historic campus, but will also serve as a model of responsible climate adaptation measures for both historic properties and ordinary citizens.
“I’m proud to have secured over $221 million of critical funding for Massachusetts projects that will make our water cleaner, our environment healthier, our workforce stronger, and expand justice in our communities—including right here in Salem,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “The House of the Seven Gables is an iconic feature on the North Shore and in Massachusetts history, and I’m grateful that this funding will enable it to be preserved and protected for hundreds of years to come.”
“Historic landmarks like The House of the Seven Gables are at the heart of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “This funding is critical to ensure future generations can experience the deep legacy these sites provide while they work hard to fight new challenges brought on by climate change.”
About The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association
As stewards of this iconic historic site, we aim to follow the tradition of Nathaniel Hawthorne and tell stories that reckon with the hard truths of our past, acknowledge our unique individual journeys, and remind us of our dependence on one another. As inheritors of the legacy of Caroline Emmerton and the Settlement House Movement, we aim to provide meaningful support for new immigrants, challenge misleading narratives that limit their opportunities, and empower them to write their own pages in our ongoing American story. For more information, visit www.7gables.org