Historic shipbuilding & Maine Maritime Museum

About

Sitting along the banks of the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, the Maine Maritime Museum tells the story of a region shaped by the sea. Bath has been a shipbuilding center since the colonial era, and this museum preserves that heritage across a sprawling campus that combines indoor galleries with an outdoor historic shipyard.

The museum's collections span centuries of maritime history. You'll find ship models, navigational instruments, paintings, and personal artifacts from the people who built and sailed these vessels. One highlight is the Donnell House, an intact Victorian-era shipbuilder's home that offers a window into the domestic life of Bath's prosperous shipbuilding families. The house has been carefully preserved, giving visitors a sense of how wealth from the maritime trade shaped everyday life in this small Maine city.

Outdoors, the historic Percy & Small Shipyard is the only surviving wooden shipbuilding yard in the country. Walking through it, you can see where massive schooners were once constructed and launched into the river. Interpretive displays explain the craft and labor behind these enormous vessels.

The museum also offers seasonal boat tours on the Kennebec River, providing a chance to see the waterfront from the water itself. These tours often highlight local wildlife, lighthouses, and the Bath Iron Works, which continues the city's shipbuilding tradition today.

For families, interactive exhibits and hands-on activities make the museum engaging for younger visitors. There's something satisfying about a museum that doesn't just display history behind glass but lets you get close to it.

Bath itself is worth exploring before or after your visit. The compact downtown features well-preserved architecture from the shipbuilding boom era, along with local shops and restaurants. Parking is available on-site for a nominal fee of $5 per vehicle. Plan for two to three hours to see the full campus comfortably, longer if you're joining a boat tour or taking your time in the shipyard.

Accessibility

The Maine Maritime Museum campus features a mix of paved and gravel walkways that are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. However, some areas of the historic shipyard have substantial inclines, and floors in historic buildings and gravel paths may be uneven. A few historic structures are only accessible by stairs, so not all areas of the campus can be reached by wheelchair users.

Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. Accessible restrooms are available on the campus. On-site parking is available for $5 per vehicle, and the lot accommodates visitors with mobility needs.

The museum works to provide accessible experiences for all visitors, and the main exhibit galleries are wheelchair-friendly. Indoor exhibits are generally on level surfaces and easier to access than the outdoor shipyard areas.

For visitors with specific accessibility needs or questions about current accommodations, including sensory accommodations, assistive listening devices, or service animal policies, contact the museum directly before your visit. Staff can advise on the best route through the campus and help plan around any areas that may present challenges. The museum's phone number and contact information are available on their official website at mainemaritimemuseum.org.

More accessible places in Maine

• Maine Maritime Museum (Bath)
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Boothbay)
• Acadia NP & coastal hikes & food scene (Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor)
• Acadia National Park (Bar Harbor)
• Portland Museum of Art (Portland)
• Southern Maine Beach Towns (Ogunquit)