Maine Maritime Museum

The Maine Maritime Museum, which also now includes the Portland Harbor Museum, provides visitors with a comprehensive and compelling chronicle of Maine's rich ship building legacy. It's fitting that this museum is located in Bath, home of the Bath Iron Works which is famous for producing mighty destroyer vessels for the U.S. Navy. One feature of the museum actually allows visitors to take a one-hour behind the scenes trolley tour of the iconic Bath ship building manufacturer. Other museum highlights allow visitors to explore an historic shipyard that has five of the original 19th century buildings intact; a shipyard owners' mansion from the 1800s; exhibits depicting Maine's overseas trade and lobstering; and the opportunity to watch master craftsman build wooden ships. Children will enjoy the museum's Pirate Play Ship and a play tugboat bridge complete with a horn and whistle. The museum's expansiveness will easily fill a complete afternoon of fascinating exploration for both children and adults.