Maine Maritime Museum
Museum Maritime museum in Maine emphasizing regional shipbuilding history
Shipbuilding museum in Bath on the Kennebec River documenting wooden-ship construction, model collections and waterfront exhibits; visitors tour historic vessels and riverfront yards.
The Maine Maritime Museum is a regional museum in Bath, Maine, dedicated to the maritime history of Maine and Bath’s long shipbuilding tradition. It interprets the local industry, seafaring, and coastal culture through collections and site displays.
Exhibition galleries present artifacts, models, and interpretive displays about commercial shipping, fishing, boatbuilding, and naval construction. The museum also includes outdoor and site-based elements related to shipbuilding and the riverfront rather than being only a gallery-only facility.
The museum assembled and preserves historic shipyard buildings and artifacts and documents Bath’s role in building wooden and steel vessels. Over time the site has expanded to include the historic Percy & Small shipyard structures and waterfront exhibits that illustrate changes in ship construction and riverfront industry.
The site sits on the Kennebec River in the city of Bath, roughly 40 miles northeast of Portland, Maine, with riverfront access and views across the Kennebec toward active shipyards and industrial waterfront areas.
- Focus and location: Located on the banks of the Kennebec River in Bath and focused on the maritime history and shipbuilding industries of Maine.
What to See #
- Percy & Small Shipyard: Includes the preserved 19th-century Percy & Small shipyard site, with original buildings and exhibits about small wooden-boat construction.
How to Get to Maine Maritime Museum #
The Maine Maritime Museum is in Bath, about a 40-50 minute drive north of Portland, ME on US-1/US-1A or via I-295 and ME-24. There is on-site parking. Bath is also reached by regional bus services; from downtown Bath the museum is a short taxi or rideshare trip along Washington Street.
Tips for Visiting Maine Maritime Museum #
- Arrive mid-morning to catch staff demonstrations and boat tours without the early-bird throngs.
- Take the short river cruise or boatyard tour - the working waterfront context is what sets this museum apart.
- Don't skip the shipyard exhibits: the wooden-hull models and shipwright tools are unexpectedly absorbing.
Best Time to Visit Maine Maritime Museum #
Summer offers the fullest schedule and boat tours; late spring and early fall are quieter and pleasant for walking the waterfront.
