This Maine museum takes visitors back to the golden age of wooden ships

To folks “from away,” Bath, Maine, may not ring a bell the same way as cities like Portland or Bar Harbor.  

But for a time, it was among the busiest international ports on the Eastern seaboard, explained Amanda Pleau, marketing and communications manager at Maine Maritime Museum.  

“It used to be shipyard after shipyard after shipyard after shipyard, just shipbuilding as far as you can see,” she said. 

Bath churned out so many large wooden vessels in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries that it became known as the “City of Ships.” 

While most of the shipyards are gone, that rich history is still celebrated today along with Maine’s wider maritime heritage at the Maine Maritime Museum. 

Location 

Maine Maritime Museum is located along the Kennebec River in Bath.

It's less than an hour from Portland.

Why it matters 

In addition to honoring Maine's maritime history, past and present, the museum preserves the nation’s only surviving shipyard from the large wooden vessel era, the Percy & Small Shipyard. 

“In fact, the largest wooden schooner ever built happened on our property in Bath,” Pleau said. 

What to see today 

All of the buildings used in the shipbuilding process are still intact, so visitors can see how the ships came together as well as the working conditions and technology of the day, Pleau said, comparing the shipyard to a “locked-in-amber time capsule.” 

This summer, the museum will debut new interpretive elements in the shipyard, designed to be more accessible and engaging for all visitors. There are also interactive exhibits in the museum’s main building. 

“We're also in the process of expanding the types of stories that we can tell that are inspired by Maine's maritime history,” Pleau said. “Right now, we also have an exhibit called Re|Sounding that centers the perspectives of Indigenous and Black mariners.” 

The museum also displays selections from its extensive historic watercraft collection, which Pleau noted includes “the oldest known birch bark canoe on view.”  

Ask a local 

The only shipyard still active in Bath today is Bath Iron Works, which is part of General Dynamics.  

The private contractor, located up the river from the museum, designs and builds ships for the U.S. Navy.  

Visitors who want a closer look at the naval destroyers being built can take a paid boat tour operated by the museum. 

Plan your visit 

• Best time: The Maine Maritime Museum is open year-round, but the shipyard and outbuildings close seasonally. They're open during the peak season of mid-May through late October, and sometimes longer but with less certainty. Visitors who want to experience the full array of offerings should plan for summer or early fall trips. 
• Hours/admission: The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, weather permitting. During peak season, admission costs $22 for most adults, but $20 for seniors. In the off-season, it’s $14 for adults and $12 for seniors. Kids under the age of 18 may enter for free year-round. Boat tours have separate fees but include museum admission. 
• Getting there: The nearest airport is Portland International Jetport, which is about 45 minutes away by car. 
• Learn more: Additional details can be found at mainemaritimemuseum.org.