History of the Region and Museum Displays
The Windjammer Emporium is located in the middle of Pier One which has been the hub of boating traffic since the late 1700's. In the early days schooners would unload and load passengers here. Then came the steamers bringing summer rusticators to Boothbay Harbor and the surrounding region. Now you can take boat tours to see lighthouses, whales, seals, and puffins.
Maritime Displays, Photos, Videos, Artifacts and
Ship Models
We have a huge schooner model of the Bluenose II, a schooner built in Nova Scotia for the Grand Banks fishing industry and was famous for a dominating series of victories in the annual Fisherman's race.
Sherman Zwicker, a Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Grand Banks schooner which called Boothbay Harbor her home for 50 years.
Heritage, a proud Rockland schooner. Owned by Captains Doug and Linda Lee. She has attended Windjammer Days for many years.
America II, built in East Boothbay at Goudy and Stevens Shipyard in 1967 for the owner of the Schaefer Brewing Company. We heard that was one big launching party!
Bowdoin: Built in 1921 by Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard in East Boothbay for Admiral MacMillan.
MacMillan was a long time explorer of the land and seas in the Arctic Circle.
We also have a gorgeous 7' model of the Titanic where we tell the story of Mainers On The Titanic.
Doris, built in Belfast in 1898. this antique representation is called Little Doris.
Come Explore Our Proud Shipbuilding Heritage From 1816-Present.
We have an extensive history of Hodgdon Brothers, Fuller, and Bristol Marine shipyards.
Plus, there are some smaller stories on Goudy and Stevens, Ried, Adams, and other yards.
Learn of our role in wars and military from the Civil War to WWI and II, the Korean War and how we are now involved in today’s new form of warfare.
Civil War-A Southport fishing schooner was part of a historic naval battle fought in Portland Maine.
World War I-Due to a lack of Naval ships the US military bought and hired back the captains and crews of many coastal schooners. Many of those would be sunk by German U-boats. We have an actual video of a sinking.
World War II-Once it was realized that the steel hull ships were not designed to be used as minesweepers, the navy came to the Boothbay Region to have many wooden hull minesweepers and patrol boats built.
Plus, we tell the fascinating story of a local businessman turned naval officer who captured a German U-boat off the coast of Portsmouth, NH. After the capture, the commander brought his armed cutter, Argo, to Southport to show her off to his parents and then gave the victorious crew a sightseeing tour of beautiful Boothbay Harbor on the ship!
Finally, working with the Special Materials Graduate Program from the University of Maine, Hodgdon Yachts has built stealth landing craft for navy Seal teams.
Study Schooner Bowdoin's Arctic Trips, Ice, and Fishing Industries of 1900.
Photos, artifacts, and stories of the Bowdoin and the industries that kept the Boothbay Region working. In 1900 there were 600 men employed in the ice industry alone! There was a huge demand for ice to keep the food and drinks cold down south, long before the convenience of refrigerators.
