About

CLOSED FOR THE WINTER! Join us next May to raise a sail, read a seaman’s diary, sing a sea chantey! Voyage through HUNDREDS of years, THOUSANDS of miles, and MILLIONS of stories with us. Explore art, objects, photos, and hands-on exhibits.

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Save the Date!

Visit us in person or online for workshops, lectures, special exhibits, kids’ events, and more. View our calendar for upcoming events.

Calendar

Big Jim Restoration

Help us restore “Big Jim,” the 40-foot-tall Maine fisherman in Prospect Harbor who has welcomed visitors to Sardineland and Vacationland since 1959.

View our historic photo collections by renowned photographers.

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Membership

Join today and help us continue to inspire curiosity and foster understanding about life and work on the Maine coast.

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Historical Photographs

Acres of Campus

Small Boats

What a treasure you have created in Searsport, Maine! We had a grand time and will definitely be back!

— Judith G.

Wow! This was an exceptional experience and so much more than we anticipated.

— Dale W.

A very cool museum with tons of interesting local history and information. The docents were excellent — well-informed and good story-tellers. There are many interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. Highly recommend.

— Rebecca L.

Current Exhibits

Permanent Exhibit

At Home, At Sea

Searsport in the 1800s is the story of people and the sea. In 1850, one out of every four males in Searsport was a mariner.

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Permanent Exhibit

Rusticators on the Water

When Rusticators flocked to Maine in the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, they sought a rustic vacation to retreat from their busy city lives.

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Latest News

Check out what’s going on at Penobscot Marine Museum! From updates our lecture series to special events and exhibits, we’ve got news for everyone. See all our recent posts.

March 2026 Newsletter

Mar 1, 2026

Eliot Elisofon’s Vinalhaven Summers with Kevin Johnson, Maine’s Export Industries by Cipperly Good, exclusive video about the Big Jim restoration project.

February 2026 Newsletter

Feb 1, 2026

Kids’ vacation camps, Member Monday with Cipperly, an update on the photo archives, and remembering Michael Simon.

January 2026 Newsletter

Jan 1, 2026

Upcoming workshops including a Valentine event, a sardine-snack event, and POP studies.

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Penobscot Marine Musuem

Penobscot Marine Museum

40 E Main Street | P.O. Box 498 Searsport, ME 04974
Phone: 207-548-2529

Hours

We will re-open in May 2026

Thanks for a great season! Penobscot Marine Museum's campus is now closed for the winter.

Mission

Penobscot Marine Museum inspires curiosity and fosters understanding about life and work on the Maine coast to encourage stewardship of our communities and the sea.