be taken to mean the entire coast of Massachusetts from New Hampshire to Boston (listed in order, north-to-south): Economic The Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council's North Shore Task Force, a regional planning agency, defines the North Shore as also encompassing Cape Ann and several inland communities. When combined with the North Shore Chamber of Commerce's definition of the region, the North Shore comprises the following cities and towns: Cultural The North Shore has historically been viewed as a wealthy, exclusive collection of towns and fishing villages, but also contains some working-class cities and suburbs of Boston. In 1893, The New York Times described the region as a notable summer destination for the socialites, politicians, and businessmen of New York and New England, dotted with hotels, cottages, and burgeoning gentlemen's clubs. Salem, known worldwide as the location of the Salem witch trials; the working-class fishing city of Gloucester; and the region's many beaches make it a popular tourist destination. History The North Shore communities have varied and rich histories: Gloucester was America's first fishing community; Salem was the location of the infamous witch trials as well as one of the largest centers of shipping and sixth largest city in early America. The hysteria that led to the witch trials began in the part of Salem that is now Danvers. Lynn was once the center of the American shoe industry. Saugus is home to the first integrated ironworks in North America. Peabody had the largest concentration of tanneries in the world; and Beverly and Marblehead often dispute over which town was the birthplace of the American Navy. Newburyport was well known for producing clipper ships and for a brief time in history was the richest city in the Union; it is also the birthplace of the United States Coast Guard. Newburyport maintains the largest collection of Federal period commercial and residential architecture in the nation. Sites of interest The Peabody Essex Museum – a museum with large collections of maritime artifacts and Asian art. National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Massachusetts The Salem Witch Museum Historic Downtown Salem The Salem Seaport The Saugus Iron Works The Swampscott Fish House – the oldest active fish house in the country. Newburyport's historic district maintains the nation's largest collection of Federal period architecture Historic Gloucester and Rockport Seaports North Shore Navigators collegiate-league baseball team The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, New England's