Portland Harbor Museum

Founded in 1987, Portland Harbor Museum is an exciting place to explore and celebrate the rich maritime history of Portland Harbor - and there is a LOT of history, so we hope you're ready!

The exhibits at the Portland Harbor Museum offer an opportunity to learn all about the role that the harbor played in shaping Southern Maine's economic, historic and social character.

Even before you walk in the doors you can start to discover its history, given that the museum itself resides in a historic building right on the waterfront, just a few yards from Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.

The collections with the Portland Harbor Museum feature a number of artifacts and documents that are relevant to Casco Bay's ongoing maritime culture, from photographs, to artifacts from the South Portland Shipyards that produced those famous Liberty Ships during WWII.

You can also see a host of other items that related to the early settlement by Europeans in the area.

Within the exhibits, you can see a large section of the ONLY surviving American clipper ship called Snow Squall within the 19th century wooden shipbuilding section.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, it's fascinating to understand about the grounds that the museum sits on - Fort Preble. Constructed back in 1808 and active right through to 1950, kids can learn how may of the coast artillery gun emplacements are still visible, as are the granite Civil War casemates.

There is even a 17th century Old Settlers Cemetery accessible from the walkway.

A fascinating day of history in Portland!