Historically, the Salem Harbor was the site of one of the major international ports in the colonies. During the American Revolutionary War, merchant ships were enlisted as privateers, an important role to augment the ill-prepared Continental Navy. In 1790, Salem Harbor was a world-famous seaport and sixth-largest in the United States of America. Nowadays the harbor is used for commercial and recreational purposes. Recreational features of the harbor include two small beaches, a pier, a yacht club, and a boardwalk.