PMM Offers Course in Penobscot Bay History

March 2, 2011 - Celebrate Penobscot Bay’s historic and ongoing connection to the sea, in this six-week course at Senior College in Belfast, taught by professionals from Penobscot Marine Museum. Learn how the bay's traditional industries like boatbuilding, fishing, quarrying, sailing, and “rusticating” sustained local communities for more than 200 years. Hear how our connection to the Orient was once the talk of the world. Study a wide range of extraordinary marine art, including paintings commemorating the proudest examples of Maine shipbuilding. View dozens of vintage images from several important photography collections, including some showing Camden, Belfast, Searsport, and other nearby towns as they appeared century ago.

You'll also hear how Penobscot Marine Museum was founded 75 years ago and how it grew over the years. The course will culminate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum, showing not only the permanent exhibits but also scenes that general public never sees: new exhibits under construction, storage areas filled with nautical treasures, photo workshops, manuscript archives, and more. The course will be taught by Ben Fuller (Curator), Cipperly Good (Collections Manager), Kevin Johnson (Photo Archivist), and Betty Schopmeyer (Education Director).

Classes will be held at the UMaine Hutchinson Center in Belfast on six consecutive Thursdays, from March 31 to May 5, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Registration is through Senior College.