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Maine Maritime Museum - located on the Kennebec River in Bath, with 10 acres of galleries and exhibits

Maine Maritime Museum is a must see for lovers of the Maine Coast and maritime heritage, for visitors and natives alike. This Museum brings culture and history to life. The Museum collects and displays artifacts relating to Maine’s rich maritime history. The Museum was founded in 1962, and is now located on the Kennebec River in Bath, with 10 acres of galleries and exhibits located on 25 acres of waterfront.

The Museum’s collection contains 16,000 items, including 300 ship models, 300 paintings, 2,000 tools, 130 watercraft, as well as navigational instruments, and figureheads. Patrons are invited to experience an active waterfront, fascinating exhibits, interactive areas for both children and adults, a historic shipyard featuring five original 19th century shipyard buildings, a Victorian-era shipyard owner’s home, a life-size sculptural representation of the largest wooden sailing vessel ever built, and stunning views of the Kennebec River. The Museum also offers narrated tours and boat cruises during the summer months.

The Maine Maritime Museum bookstore and gift shop offers a wide selection of maritime books, clothing, jewelry, clocks, toys, games, and memorabilia.

The Museum’s Library contains nearly 10,000 bound volumes, over 40,000 periodicals, more than 35,000 photographs, and over 1,500 linear feet of manuscripts. The Library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 3, or by appointment. The Library is an immensely valuable resource for those researching Maine-related vessels, maritime businesses, ports, or nautical subjects. There is no charge for members, students, journalists, and other museums. Others are asked to pay the admission fee.

The Museum is open every day, except for major holidays, from 9:30 to 5. Admission is free to members. Adult admission is $12. Senior admission is $11. Student and child (age 4-17) admission is $9. Children 3 and under are free. Plan to spend several hours, as many visitors complain that they “didn’t have time to see it all.”

The Maine Maritime Museum is located at 243 Washington Street in Bath. The Museum welcomes boaters with a new Visiting Yachtsmen’s Building which offers restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. Mooring or docking fees will apply.

The Maine Maritime Museum offers their facility to host special events, including weddings, parties, reunions, meetings, and memorial services. The Museum can accommodate large parties and works with a variety of caterers. Some guests choose to hold their events outside in the shipyard, under a tent, with unlimited views of the Kennebec River.

Call 207-443-1316 for more information.

For additional insight about the Maine Maritime Museum and visitor experience, read our in-depth Maine Maritime Museum article on our Maine Travel Blog.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
“Maine Maritime Museum” by prettywar-stl on Flickr Creative Commons
“Maine Maritime Museum” by prettywar-stl on Flickr Creative Commons
“Maine Maritime Museum” by prettywar-stl on Flickr Creative Commons