Overview
- The National Park Service’s Armory Visitor Center reopened in early October after an Oct. 1 shutdown closure, restoring public restrooms, maps and films for peak-season visitors.
- Essex Heritage says roughly $18,600–$19,000 was raised in about 48 hours to cover utilities, custodial work, a Park Service ranger and required overhead.
- Local partners provided staffing and donations, including an $8,000 lead gift from the Salem Witch Museum plus volunteers and personnel from Eastern National and others.
- The temporary funding is scheduled to keep the center operating through Nov. 2–3 with hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while other NPS sites such as the Salem Maritime National Historic Site remain closed.
- Park rangers continue essential work without pay, and Essex Heritage warns potential RIFs could affect park operations and the broader community.