Maine Maritime Museum
Maine Maritime Museum
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Maine Maritime Museum is located on a beautiful 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River in historic Bath, Maine, and open year round. May through October, visitors can enjoy one of our daily lighthouse cruises. Our BIW Story tour provides an exclusive look at modern-day shipbuilding. Indoors, visitors enjoy air-conditioned galleries with exhibits and hands-on activities for all ages. Outdoors, visitors can join a guided tour of the historic Percy & Small Shipyard, learn about lobstering, enjoy lunch under the sculpture of the schooner Wyoming (the largest wooden sailing vessel built in North America), see a blacksmith at work in their shop, watch wooden boats being constructed in the Boatshop, or play on a pirate ship. There's so much to see, admission is good for two days & children under 18 receive free admission. See why USA Today named Maine Maritime Museum the best museum in Maine!
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- mdw50192 contributionsSpend the day but pack a lunchSo many things to see and do! We could have spent all day there except that there is no snack bar or place to eat nearby. Especially enjoyed the one hour river cruise and the tour of the former working shipyard.Great advice! We have an on-site food service provider from mid-May to mid-October but between their staffing challenges and the rainy summer leaving nowhere to sit and eat outside, it was a bit of a challenge to have consistent operating hours. And admission is good for two days, so if you do leave to grab lunch, you're more than welcome to return! We are working hard to solve this for next year, thank you so much for taking a moment to share your experience and feedback! AmandaWritten November 15, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2023Written June 19, 2023
- USMCRipMerrimack, New Hampshire1,766 contributionsI was surprised with how nice and fun this wasI had low expectations for this place and was so surprised with how nice it easy. Large parking lot so parking was not an issue. Nice garden near the parking lot so don’t miss them. The main area is small and quite nice. The main thing to not miss is the exhibit where it was like being at the top of a lighthouse with a real lighthouse light rotating and lite. The rest of the exhibit are scattered around the large property and do include a lot of ship building themes and exhibits of seaman working. Great place. My only complaint would be “you are in your own”. It would be nice to have some docents around explaining things and answering questions.Thank you so much for this! We always hope to exceed expectations, and glad to hear that was easily achieved on your visit :D We do offer demonstration areas with volunteers and guided tours from about mid-May to mid-October, as well as self-directed audio tours. We'll be sure to make sure those hours and locations are clearly communicated in our materials as we plan for next spring, thank you for the feedback!Written November 15, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 11, 2023
- Linda KWalkertown, North Carolina102 contributionstotally immersingThis was such an interesting and expansive museum; we visited in June and probably stayed 3+ hours. it has amazing displays about the Maine lighthouses, sailing, ship building, lobstering and so much more; I would highly recommend that most people would really enjoy this stop and especially those interested in history and life in Maine in its early days. The displays are so well done, well lit, and easily understandableWe really appreciate it, thank you!Written November 15, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2023Written July 14, 2023
- Pauld886Falmouth, Massachusetts119 contributionsA great experience!Totally unexpected! The museum was both interesting and entertaining. A full picture of the sailing vessels built at Bath was well documented and explained. We also took the boat ride which lasted about an hour and I would highly recommend.the extra cost. You get a close up view of the shipyard and the construction of the newest navy warships as well as guided narration about the river.Thank you so much!Written November 15, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 14, 2023
- Kay OB20 contributionsHelpful, kind knowledgeable staff. Great exhibits!This was a wonderful way to spend a morning on a Saturday in the Bath area for me and my young adult son. The staff were extremely courteous and very excited to share their knowledge with the visitors. I'd give it more stars if I could.Thank you!Written November 2, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Written August 26, 2023
- Catherine S5 contributionsOriginal Wooden Shipbuilding Yard & Structures and Cruise by Bath Ironworks US Navy Shipbuilding SiteMuseum is on the Kennebec River at the historic shipyard location, and many of the shipyard buildings have been preserved. Artisans are on-site to explain the wooden shipbuilding process. Nice tie-in with the current Bath Iron Works shipbuilding (Navy ships) just up the river. We enjoyed taking the tour to cruise by the Bath Iron Works secured facility. Our tour guide was a recently retired Bath Iron Works engineer. We highly recommend taking the Bath Iron Works boat tour from the Maine Maritime Museum.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten August 27, 2023
- Roger MWashington DC, District of Columbia315 contributionsWell worth the visit!A great maritime museum! The exhibits are well planned and displayed. We took the one hour cruise on the Kennebec. Wonderful. Excellent commentary about the town, River and Bath Iron Works.So glad to hear this, thank you!Written November 2, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 12, 2023
- Ken VMaryland214 contributionsA very neat place and well worth timeThis was a great place to learn about the history of Maine's maritime industry (shipbuilding in particular). We toured the museum and took the cruise. It was a very nice place with many interesting insights into the industry, craftsmanship, and industrial arts that made this all come together. It is worth a visit.Thank you!Written November 2, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 12, 2023
- Michelle M2 contributionsWorthwhile maritime museumVery worthwhile museum. We got there late in the day, unfortunately, due to how the day worked out for us. Your ticket does include 2 days within a 7 day period, which would be useful as there is a lot to see. We were not able to do one of the boat tours due to our late schedule on this day, but those looked very worthwhile as well. **Not sure if these boat tours are offered year-round or are a seasonal thing, so you may want to check this before visiting if a boat tour is desired. **The outside buildings closed at 4:30, so we did have to rush to see the buildings that were outside of the main museum building. The map was also misleading and we didn't think we were allowed to see the buildings that were listed as white, but found out later that these were accessible as well.Thank you so much for mentioning the 2-day admission. There is a lot to see and do here, and we hope to be as accommodating as possible! And we appreciate the feedback regarding the early closure of our additional exhibits and the map, we will keep this in mind moving forward. Thank you again for visiting!Written November 2, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 21, 2023
- JA6 contributionsA must-see for boat loversMaine Maritime Museum is situated along the Kennebec river in Bath, Maine, adjacent to the Bath Ironworks. We booked on the Land and Sea tour, which I highly recommend, especially if you have never been to Bath. The tour took us on a trolley through Bath where our very knowledgeable tour guide (a former employee at Bath Ironworks) described the history of the town as well as the history of Bath Ironworks (where military vessels are built). Even the trolley driver piped in with some interesting history. Following this, we toured part of the museum and then boarded a tour boat which took us past the Ironworks where we could see several vessels in various stages of construction. We were able to cruise up the Kennebec river and back again- great narration and interest details about the area. Saw a few eagles along the way! The museum itself has retained its very interesting shipbuilding history and has some wonderful displays. The boat-building workshop was very impressive - they have an excellent connection with several schools in the area and provide programs for kids to be able to participate in boat construction. Well done, Maine Maritime Museum!Thank you so much!Written October 30, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 25, 2023
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d0rinnea
Rhode Island104 contributions
May 2021
We booked a harbor cruise at the museum as part of our Memorial Day trip to Maine and it was the highlight of the weekend. It was an overcast, cold day but we thoroughly enjoyed checking out the exhibits and walking the grounds to see the buildings. The cruise was great and had interesting narration to explain the sights as we rode around in the harbor. There's even a small playground area (shaped like a ship) on the grounds for kids to get some energy out.
My only complaints were that the restaurant was closed so we left to get lunch. We would likely have stayed a little longer if we'd been able to eat there and it just didn't seem worth it to leave and come back. Also, they had a huge selection of sweatshirts and fleece for adults and none for kids. Since it was a cold day, we would have happily bought sweatshirts for the entire family but they didn't have anything child sized.
If you have an interest in New England maritime history or boats, it's a must-see.
My only complaints were that the restaurant was closed so we left to get lunch. We would likely have stayed a little longer if we'd been able to eat there and it just didn't seem worth it to leave and come back. Also, they had a huge selection of sweatshirts and fleece for adults and none for kids. Since it was a cold day, we would have happily bought sweatshirts for the entire family but they didn't have anything child sized.
If you have an interest in New England maritime history or boats, it's a must-see.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andre M
Worcester, MA200 contributions
Oct 2021
We booked the afternoon Autumn Lights Cruise at 3:30 p.m. (duration: 2 hours) at the Maritime Museum. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our Popham Beach vacation during the first October week of 2021.
The boat goes from the Maritime Museum (right next to the Bath Iron Works) on the Kennebec River all the way down to the mouth of the river next to Fort Popham (where we stayed at a beach cottage for one week) and at Pond Island (open sea) it turns around and goes back to Bath.
During the 2 hours on the boat there was FORTUNATELY not much loudspeaker speeches (which often destroy such cruises), but the captain made us aware of the 4 light houses on the Kennebec River and the bald eagles (we saw two bald eagles on both sides of the Kennebec River).
Once the boat is past Fort Popham you can see two more lighthouses on Pond Island and on Seguin Island (that one is the lighthouse with the highest elevation in Maine).
We had a great time, I took more than 300 photos and we can highly recommend this boat tour. You need a warm coat.
The boat goes from the Maritime Museum (right next to the Bath Iron Works) on the Kennebec River all the way down to the mouth of the river next to Fort Popham (where we stayed at a beach cottage for one week) and at Pond Island (open sea) it turns around and goes back to Bath.
During the 2 hours on the boat there was FORTUNATELY not much loudspeaker speeches (which often destroy such cruises), but the captain made us aware of the 4 light houses on the Kennebec River and the bald eagles (we saw two bald eagles on both sides of the Kennebec River).
Once the boat is past Fort Popham you can see two more lighthouses on Pond Island and on Seguin Island (that one is the lighthouse with the highest elevation in Maine).
We had a great time, I took more than 300 photos and we can highly recommend this boat tour. You need a warm coat.
Written October 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory M
Westchester, IL274 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The museum is located on 20 acres on the Kennebec River. There are a number of original buildings from the Percy & Small Shipbuilders which built wooden ships in the late 19th and early 20th century, including the Wyoming, the largest wooden ship built in North America and commemorated by an actual size sculpture on the grounds. There are hourly docent tours. We arrived the day after the cruises resumed ($38 for the cruise and admission to the museum). The cruise along the Kennebec River lasts an hour and points out several light houses, bell towers, range lights and wild life. We saw an adolescent bald eagle in a tree. The cruise also takes you by the Bath Iron Works shipyard where you get a close up look at US Navy ships under construction. You ca also tour the Donnell House on the museum campus which was the residence of another shipbuilder next to the P&S shipyard. The first floor of the house has been restored including some of the original furniture and belongings. There are docent led tours of the Donnell house every 30 minutes. We were there 4 hours and didn’t get to see everything. Your admission ticket lets you return one more time within 7 days. It is well worth the visit.
Written May 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenna
57 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We had an amazing experience on the Autumn Lights Cruise! We capstoned our honeymoon with this experience. We did book ahead of time, and we’re thankful we did as it appears to have been full. Although we did not partake, there were light snacks and refreshments (including coffee) available for purchase.
The crew were kind, friendly, and informative. They shared local history, landmarks (of course focusing on the river lighthouses), and wildlife. We feel very fortunate that we were able to see 2 eagles, countless seals, and many other waterfowl! The seals were so cute popping up and checking out what us tourists were doing! The fog rolled in and we were worried it would ruin our views but actually cast a really cool vantage point over the river!
This hopefully a helpful tip - our cruise docked and we left the museum around 5:45 so we just recommend accounting for a little leeway around the 5:30 end of cruise if you’re making dinner reservations. We didn’t have dinner booked until 7:20 so we weren’t in a rush!
We talked about doing another tour with them on subsequent trips to Maine! Thank you so much!
The crew were kind, friendly, and informative. They shared local history, landmarks (of course focusing on the river lighthouses), and wildlife. We feel very fortunate that we were able to see 2 eagles, countless seals, and many other waterfowl! The seals were so cute popping up and checking out what us tourists were doing! The fog rolled in and we were worried it would ruin our views but actually cast a really cool vantage point over the river!
This hopefully a helpful tip - our cruise docked and we left the museum around 5:45 so we just recommend accounting for a little leeway around the 5:30 end of cruise if you’re making dinner reservations. We didn’t have dinner booked until 7:20 so we weren’t in a rush!
We talked about doing another tour with them on subsequent trips to Maine! Thank you so much!
Written October 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wendykb
Boothbay, ME10 contributions
Jan 2020
I've been to this museum 3 times now, twice in warm weather when the outer buildings are open, and once in winter, when exhibits are limited to the main building. Every single time I've found myself entranced by and involved in the histories being told. Lots of great stuff to look at and read, presented in intriguing and effective ways. There's a good amount of interest to kids, and tons for anyone willing to spend time reading or viewing the stories.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LBlank-SalinasCA
Salinas, CA211 contributions
Sep 2021
Being from the West Coast, we had little advance information about the Maine Maritime Museum, tucked in along the Kennebec River just beyond BIW (Bath Iron Works, which builds modern destroyers for the US Navy). We had an incredible 4+ hour visit to the museum, which included a narrated tour and history of wooden shipbuilding in Bath, construction of the world's longest wooden sailing schooner (Wyoming), multiple exhibits throughout the museum, and a narrated cruise down and up the Kennebec River. Well done throughout!
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YonkersPamela
Bedford, NH14 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
My husband and I traveled from NH to see this wonderful museum. Full of history well told by various exhibits and the docent we had, Ray, as well as the docents on the Mary E. moored there. Just fabulous! Despite some changes due to Covid, many out buildings are open to go through. Well thought out with a colorful descriptive map of the grounds. Nothing disappoints. Right on the river with cruises daily. Spend time and slow down to learn and get the feel of the place, originally the Percy & Small shipyard. You may even see an Eagle or two........
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Retiredfarrier
Summerdale, AL81 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
Huge museum took me 1 1/2 days to see everything. Tells the story of Percy and Small Shipbuilding Co. from its inception until it’s closing right on the grounds with many of the original buildings remaining. Inside the main museum Are movies & exhibits about the area shipping ,lighthouses, and the Wyoming, one of the Largest and most famous ships built by this company. In the building scattered around the grounds are exhibits and tools that tell of each separate portion of ship building- rope making, planking ,caulking, sail making, &Blacksmiths shop. There was a human Blacksmith working in the shop that day also. I got a big kick out of learning about all the separate special tools of each trade. There are all kind of old artifacts even a whole building about lobstering and another filled with antique boats. Everything was intriguing and well done. The ticket to get in was somewhere around 17 or $18, but for all that entertainment and interesting stuff it was sure worth it.
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary Lou T
Haverhill, MA60 contributions
Aug 2021
My husband and I had a few hours before our family reunion began, so we stopped in at the Maritime Museum. We took a 45 minute free tour of the grounds where a guide told us about the shipbuilding done on the site in the early 1900's. Visitors can view buildings where blacksmiths worked and trees were planed to prepare them for building the sailing ships. The museum offers many rooms full of artifacts dealing with light houses, fishing, ship building and seafarers' clothing and memorabilia. A nice way to spend a few hours on the water in Bath, Maine.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel80
Tyler, TX434 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This Museum that does a Great Job of telling the history of the Percy & Small Shipbuilding Co. which operated on this Site from 1894 to 1920 as well as housing/displaying many other Maritime artifacts. Highly recommend both of the docent-led Talks including the Shipyard talk/tour which is offered at least twice a day (check with Museum for times before or just after your arrive for times available that day). We VERY MUCH ENJOYED the 3 hours we spent at MMM!!!
Written September 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you bring food and drinks on the lighthouse cruise.
Maine Maritime Museum
Bath, ME
Hi Debra! Thank you for your interest in our cruises. Yes! You can bring food and non-alcoholic beverages on all of our cruises. Beer, wine, and snacks are also available for purchase on board!
Is there an admit fee?
martyC5001NS
Boothbay Harbor, ME250 contributions
Yes, $17.50 or $16.00 for seniors. Plan to spend the whole day.
Start with the docent tour that is one hour. Then you are on your own to walk the ground in and out of historic buildings. Save the museum last. There is a food service building on the grounds.
Is this pet friendly
Maine Maritime Museum
Bath, ME
Hello! Dogs are not only welcome but encouraged on the south side of our campus; we even have a poop bag station! It's a lovely little loop to walk your dog. Inside the museum's buildings and historic shipyard (the fenced in part) only service animals are permitted.
Kathy W
Texas, United States18 contributions
What size was the boat for the trip?
AprilVanderfield
Bath, ME19 contributions
Approximately 35 foot.
HarleysMa
Blairsville, GA133 contributions
Do you need to buy tickets to the Iron Works tour in advance or can they be purchased when we arrive?
Maine Maritime Museum
Bath, ME
Hello! The Bath Iron Works Story: By Land and Sea tour has evolved a bit over the years. Unfortunately, due to security protocols, the public isn't allowed into the shipyard. The 2.5 hour tour starts in our Bath Iron Works exhibit with a volunteer tour guide (usually a BIW retiree), then heads up Washington Street on the trolley, where the tour guide will point out features that can be seen from the road. The group then boards the cruise boat Merrymeeting and visitors will give a glimpse of BIW from the water. There's usually even time for a Q&A with the tour guide!
This tour does occasionally sell out; tickets can be purchased in advance or day-of but we strongly encourage getting them in advance.
Hope this helps!
Michel ange J
Dol-de-Bretagne, France
Bonjour je demeure en France mais un amis m'envoie vers vous. Je recherches des plans de modélisme que vous pourriez me fournir. Ces plans sont les plans d'un grand voilier 6 Mâts qui à pour nom " WYOMING " cela est il possible d'acheter ces plans et à quel prix s'il vous plait. Merci de bien vouloir répondre à ma demande
happyjackxx
Saint Louis, MO4 contributions
Baseaballe been berry-berry gooth to me
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Claim your listingMaine Maritime Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Maine Maritime Museum
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Maine Maritime Museum Information
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