Penobscot Marine Museum Celebrates Marine History

When you visit Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine, you experience the importance of the marine culture on the state of Maine and its residents. The emphasis is on the experience, as a small seaport village has been replicated for visitors to explore and enjoy.

Penobscot Marine Museum was founded in 1936 and originally located in the Old Town Hall, which was built in 1845 and donated to the Museum by the town. Since then, the museum has acquired and built structures that have allowed it to replicate a “seaport village from the Great Age of Sail.”

Penobscot Marine Museum’s seaport village

The Penobscot Marine Museum campus encompasses three acres and more than 12 buildings. Eight of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Things to see and do

Start your visit by stopping by Admission Center where you will buy tickets and pick up a map of the village. The museum store and the Main Street Gallery are also located in the Admission Center, allowing you to begin your journey back in maritime history within minutes of your arrival.

From there, the adventure is up to you. As you set out to explore the three-acre campus, you can visit a sea captain’s house, boat barns, the Old Town Hall, as well as the First Congregational Church of Searsport.

Artifacts, a library and a photography collection can be viewed in the Stephen Phillips Memorial Library. Rotating exhibits are featured in the Douglas and Margaret Carver Memorial Gallery.

Be sure to stop by the Captain Jeremiah Merithew House with two floors to explore. The Captains Gallery on the first floor features portraits of hundreds of Searsport captains and an interactive kiosk that give visitors a look at the life of a sea captain. The second floor includes exhibits of ship models, scrimshaw and marine art.

The Old Vestry is another interesting stop. This former schoolhouse and vestry of the First Congregational Church houses the museum’s Marine Science Lab, which offers hands-on science activities children of all ages will enjoy.

The Yard in the Yard is yet another must-see exhibit. Practice your sailing skills on this scaled-down model of a square-rigger’s mast. This exhibit also features a working capstan and a ship’s wheel.

Museum hours and admission

The Penobscot Marine Museum is open late May through late October. Please visit the museum website for the latest information.

Admission for the museum is as follows:

• Children (6 and under): FREE
• Seniors (65 and over): $10
• Adults: $12
• Children (7 to 15): $8

Planning your Camden, Maine Vacation

When you’re planning a trip to the Mid-coast Maine, be sure to download our Camden, Maine Vacation Guide. Whether you’re looking for adventure, a peaceful weekend for some “me time,” or a romantic weekend with the one you love, Mid-coast Maine offers a variety of options for things to do, see and experience. Let us at the Hartstone Inn, a Camden bed and breakfast, serve as your home base during your stay. Relax in one of our luxurious rooms and enjoy gourmet meals for breakfast and dinner at our restaurant.

Photo Credit: FraukeFeind / Pixabay