Seacoast Village
Eight buildings listed on National Register of Historic Buildings grace the grounds at our Seacoast Village. Complete with a classic New England Town Hall, the First Congregational Church, private residences, and a commercial building, the Village buildings range in date from about 1810–1845.
Come walk the Village grounds and enjoy the feeling of imagining how it must have been during this period of elegance and hard work.
Mouse-over the buildings for descriptions
Click here to download and print mapMap Key
Admissions, Gift Shop, and Museum on Main Street: Purchase admission passes and gifts. For the first stop on your museum tour, visit rotating exhibits in the Gallery.
Fowler-True-Ross House and Barn: Furnished in late Victorian style, this former sea captain’s home displays treasures collected by 19th century sea captains on their voyages. See how families lived in maritime Maine. Visit the adjoining barn to view part of our collection of historic Maine watercraft.
Old Vestry: This historic former schoolhouse and Congregational Church vestry is now home to the Marine Science Lab, where children can enjoy crafts and hands-on activities related to marine science.
Yard in the Yard: This scaled down model of a square-rigger’s mast offers visitors a chance to try out rigging and sails, as well as a working capstan and a ship's wheel.
Captain Jeremiah Merithew House: Working the Bay explores the 19th century industries that flourished around Penobscot Bay. View the museum’s spectacular collection of ship models, scrimshaw, and marine art, including works by Robert Salmon and the Buttersworths. The Captains Gallery features over 300 portraits of Searsport sea captains and their wives and an interactive kiosk offers some of their amazing stories.
Duncan House: Administrative offices; not open to the public.
Ross Carriage Barn: This old carriage house is home to Rowboats and Rusticators, an exhibit of historic Maine recreational boats.
Old Town Hall: Searsport's original 1845 Town Hall now houses Gone Fishing...The Story of Maine’s Sea Fisheries. Through interactive and family-friendly displays and activities, including a schooner's dory, fishing village, and pier, this exhibit offers historic and contemporary views of Maine’s finfish and shellfish industries.
Nickels-Colcord-Duncan Boat Barn and Boat House: Most of watercraft collection of is found in these buildings. Features recreational and working boats and engines.
First Congregational Church of Searsport: This is an active congregation, not a museum building, but the church invites visitors to view their beautiful sanctuary and historic stained glass windows. (Ask for schedule of openings when you visit.)
Stephen Phillips Memorial Library: The museum's research center and home to our photography collections, the library is open by appointment for those wishing to use our books, manuscripts, and other materials. The museum’s photo archive contains nearly 100,000 images spanning over a century and including glass plates from Belfast’s Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company, images by Carroll Thayer Berry, and the maritime photojournalism of Red Boutilier.
Savage Education Center: The Josiah Dutch House, once the home of a well-known ship builder, now houses a children's play-and-learning area known as the Peapod. Enjoy hands-on activities and creative play opportunities "aboard" a merchant vessel and "ashore" in a 19th century town.
Douglas and Margaret Carver Memorial Gallery: This space houses special exhibitions and is open as announced.