History & Cultures of the Great Marsh Conference

Join us for the History & Cultures of the Great Marsh Conference on Mon Oct 23 2023 at The Governor's Academy. This in-person event will start at 8:30am sharp, so be sure to arrive early! Topics and speakers will include "The Great Marsh, Newbury, and the Indigenous Worlds of the Merrimack River Valley System and Beyond” with Christoph Strobel, Ph.D.; "Contention in the Commons: The Open Field Land System in 17th Century Newbury" with historian Gordon Harris; "Slavery and Memory in the Great Marsh" with Tricia Peone, Ph.D.; and "Splendour in the Grass: Art Inspired by the Great Marsh" with American fine art specialist Monica Reuss. There will also be a panel discussion, "Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting, & Conservation in the Great Marsh" with Rich Clyborne (Executive Director of The Gundalow Company,) Russell Hopping (Ecology Program Director with the Trustees of Reservations,) and Geoffrey Walker (sportsman & wildlife activist at the Great Marsh Partnership.) Optional field trips from 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm include: bird watching with Laura Vehring in the Parker River marsh surrounding The Governor’s Academy; guided tour of Plum Island’s cranberry bogs; guided tour of the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm & its salt marsh hay production, past & present. Attendees will also be invited to tour the Academy's brand-new Alfond Coastal Research Center (completed just this summer), a state-of-the-art marine study facility overlooking the south bank of the Parker River near Thurlow's Bridge. At this day-long conference, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the rich heritage and diverse cultures of Essex County's Great Marsh. Our expert speakers will cover topics ranging from the indigenous peoples who lived in the area, the impact of European settlement on the development of the Great Marsh, the art that this beautiful place inspired, and the challenges facing the region's most captivating natural landscape today.