The Essex National Heritage Area encompasses the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, a 500 square mile region just north of Boston, Massachusetts. The county was officially designated a National Heritage Area by an Act of the U.S. Congress in 1996, in recognition of the important role that the county played in American history and the significant heritage resources that still exist in the region.

The Act also authorized the establishment of the Essex National Heritage Commission as the non-profit steward of the Area. Our mission is to preserve and enhance the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County for the benefit of all who live, work and visit the Area. To achieve this, we work collaboratively with community leaders and organizations throughout the Area to ensure that the authentic story of Essex County has meaning and value for current and future generations.