Exploring the Maine Maritime Museum

The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath is one of the finest maritime museums in America, occupying a 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River where some of history’s greatest wooden ships were built. This isn’t a dusty collection of nautical artifacts—it’s a sprawling complex of historic buildings, outdoor exhibits, working waterfront, and galleries that tell the complete story of Maine’s relationship with the sea.

Bath earned its nickname “City of Ships” honestly. For over two centuries, the shipyards here built vessels that sailed the world’s oceans—from graceful wooden schooners to the steel destroyers that Bath Iron Works still produces today. The Maine Maritime Museum preserves this heritage while connecting it to the broader story of how the sea has shaped Maine’s economy, culture, and identity.

The Historic Shipyard Campus

Percy & Small Shipyard

The museum is built on the grounds of the Percy & Small Shipyard, which operated from 1894 to 1920 and was the last surviving wooden shipyard in America to build large vessels.

What you’ll see:

Original shipyard buildings preserved and restored
The building ways where massive schooners were constructed and launched
Historic machinery and tools of the trade
Interpretive exhibits explaining how wooden ships were built

The Wyoming Sculpture

The centerpiece of the outdoor campus is a full-scale sculpture marking the outline of the Wyoming—the largest wooden sailing vessel ever built in America.

The ship’s story: Launched from this very spot in 1909, the Wyoming was a six-masted schooner measuring 450 feet in length. She carried coal along the Atlantic coast until she sank in a storm off Nantucket in 1924, taking all 14 crew members with her.

The experience: Walking the length of the Wyoming sculpture gives you visceral understanding of the scale of these vessels. They were immense—longer than a football field—and they were built of wood, by hand, right here.

The Donnell House

This 1892 Victorian home belonged to Frank Donnell, superintendent of the Percy & Small Shipyard. The house is restored with period furnishings, offering a glimpse into the life of a shipyard manager and his family.

What you’ll see:

Original furnishings and family artifacts
The domestic side of the shipbuilding industry
Victorian-era maritime community life

Donnell Garden

A beautiful waterfront garden overlooking the Kennebec River. It’s a peaceful spot to rest, watch boats pass, and contemplate the river that made Bath’s shipbuilding possible.

Indoor Galleries and Exhibits

Lobstering and the Maine Coast

One of the museum’s signature exhibitions explores Maine’s iconic lobster industry in comprehensive detail.

What you’ll learn:

The biology and life cycle of the American lobster
The history of lobstering from Indigenous practices to modern industry
How traps work and how they’ve evolved
The boats, gear, and techniques lobstermen use
Territorial systems and unwritten rules of the trade
Economic and environmental challenges facing the industry

Interactive elements: Climb aboard a lobster boat cockpit, examine traps and buoys, and learn the skills of the trade through hands-on displays.

Shipbuilding Gallery

Bath built ships for centuries. This gallery traces the arc of that industry from early colonial vessels through the golden age of wooden shipbuilding to modern steel construction.

Highlights:

Scale models of ships built in Bath
Original tools, equipment, and artifacts
The technology of wooden ship construction
How Bath transitioned from wood to steel
The story of Bath Iron Works (still operating next door)

Maritime Art

A collection of paintings, photographs, scrimshaw, and decorative arts celebrating Maine’s maritime heritage.

What you’ll see:

Ship portraits and harbor scenes
Historical photography of shipyards and working waterfronts
Decorative arts from the sailing era
Contemporary maritime art

Rotating Exhibitions

The museum hosts changing exhibitions throughout the year, often focusing on specific aspects of maritime history, particular vessels, or contemporary maritime issues.

Boat Tours and River Cruises

Kennebec River Cruises

From May through October, the museum operates boat tours on the Kennebec River—one of the best ways to understand why Bath became a shipbuilding center.

What you’ll see:

Bath Iron Works (the massive naval shipyard that’s off-limits on land)
Navy destroyers in various stages of construction
Active shipping and fishing on the river
Osprey nests and other wildlife
Historic waterfront sites from the water

Tour types: The museum offers various cruises—some focused on shipyard views, others on nature and wildlife, some combining both.

Duration: Typically 1-2 hours depending on the cruise.

Booking: Reservations strongly recommended. Popular cruises sell out, especially on weekends.

Bath Iron Works Views

Bath Iron Works (BIW) is one of America’s premier naval shipyards, building Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for the U.S. Navy. The facility is not open to the public, but the museum’s boat tours provide remarkable views.

What you might see:

Destroyers under construction in various stages
Massive cranes and building facilities
Launch and fitting-out activities
The scale of modern naval shipbuilding

Photography: Check current rules—restrictions may apply near the naval facility.

For Families

Why Kids Love It

It’s hands-on: The museum emphasizes interactive exhibits. Kids can climb aboard boats, handle gear, and engage with maritime skills.

The outdoor campus: Room to explore, boats to examine, the river to watch. Not a “don’t touch” environment.

The Wyoming: Walking the outline of a 450-foot ship makes an impression on any age.

Boat rides: What kid doesn’t want to go on a boat?

Age Recommendations

Young children: Enjoy the boats, the water, and the outdoor spaces
School age: Begin engaging with exhibits and the stories of ships and sailors
Tweens and teens: The technology, engineering, and naval history often capture interest
All ages: The combination of indoor and outdoor, history and activity, works for mixed-age groups

Practical Information

Location

243 Washington Street, Bath, Maine

The museum is just south of downtown Bath, on the river. Easy to reach from Route 1 or from downtown.

Getting There

From Portland: About 35 miles north via I-295 and Route 1.

From Brunswick: About 8 miles north on Route 1.

Parking: Free parking on the museum campus.

Hours

Open: Year-round, daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day)

Typical hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM

Boat tours: Seasonal (May-October). Check schedule for specific dates and times.

Admission

Prices (2024):

Adults: ~$18
Seniors: Reduced rate
Children 6-17: ~$12
Children under 6: Free
Family passes available

Boat tours: Additional fee, separate from museum admission.

Time Needed

Minimum: 2 hours for a quick tour of highlights

Recommended: 3-4 hours to see most exhibits and explore the campus

Full day: Add a boat tour and take your time

Tips for Visiting

Wear comfortable shoes: The campus is large with significant walking between buildings and outdoor exhibits.

Check boat tour availability: If you want to cruise, book in advance. Popular times sell out.

Combine with Bath: The museum is close to downtown Bath, which has good restaurants, shops, and architecture worth exploring.

Weather: Much of the experience is outdoors. Dress for conditions.

Accessibility

The museum works to provide accessible experiences:

Many areas are wheelchair accessible
Some historic buildings and vessels have stairs
Ask at admission about accessibility for specific areas
Boat tour accessibility varies—inquire when booking

Combining with Bath

The City of Ships

Bath itself rewards exploration. The downtown area features:

Historic architecture from the shipbuilding boom era
Local shops and restaurants
The Chocolate Church Arts Center
Views of Bath Iron Works from public vantage points

Dining

Several good restaurants within easy reach of the museum, plus more options in downtown Bath. Fresh seafood, naturally, is well-represented.

Why the Museum Matters

Understanding Maine

You cannot understand Maine without understanding its maritime heritage. The sea shaped the economy, the culture, the architecture, the food, the character of coastal communities. The Maine Maritime Museum tells that story comprehensively.

Living History

Maritime traditions continue in Maine—lobstering, fishing, boat building. The museum connects historical context to ongoing activities. What you learn here will deepen your experience at working waterfronts throughout the coast.

Preservation

The museum preserves irreplaceable artifacts and knowledge. The Percy & Small Shipyard, the only remaining wooden shipyard of its era, exists because of this institution. The skills, stories, and objects displayed here would otherwise be lost.

The Maine Maritime Museum asks a fundamental question: what does it mean for a place to be defined by the sea? In Bath, the answer involves centuries of shipbuilding, generations of mariners, evolving technologies from wooden schooners to steel destroyers, and communities shaped entirely by their relationship with the water. The museum doesn’t just display that history—it makes you feel it, standing where the great ships were built, watching the river that carried them to the ocean.