Designated in 1996 by the U.S. Congress, the Essex National Heritage Area covers 500 square miles of northeastern Massachusetts, and is comprised of an abundance of historical sites, renowned museums, wildlife refuges, working farms and inviting nature trails. It offers a uniquely New England landscape of pristine beaches, quaint seaports, town commons and renovated industrial mills, and chronicles the historical treasures of our region, the richness of our culture and the extraordinary beauty of our natural resources.