Our History and Mission
In 1995 the Salem Maritime National Park was in the process of having a tall ship built. They were copying the old plans for an "Indianman," a three masted schooner which was first launched here in 1797. The name of the vessel was the Friendship. During the same time period I conceived a plan to interpret Salem's history from the perspective of a sailor's wife, using a horse drawn carriage. I envisioned giving my kids and their junior high aged friends a crack at their first job, teaching them to be tour guides. We all wore costumes of the working class, circa 1800, when Salem was at the apex of its prominence as an international port. The kids developed good speaking skills and were thrilled to have a group of adults listen to them. Many have gone on to work with the public in their adult lives.

The kids are grown, but our mission to educate as well as to give a comfortable contact with a horse remains the same. And we still call the company Friendship Carriage Tours after the trading ship which rests in Salem harbor.