Maine's First Ship

Maine's First Ship Maine’s First Ship uses our reconstruction of the 1607 pinnace Virginia for education and community

Maine’s First Ship strives to use our reconstruction of the 1607 pinnace Virginia to immerse the public in an exploration of the region’s early history, craftsmanship, and relationships, and their impact on our community and environment today. The original Virginia was built at the Popham Colony, near the mouth of the Kennebec River, that was founded in 1607 and abandoned in 1608. The colony of ab

out 100 men and boys was founded to exploit the wood, animal, and mineral wealth of the area and to find the northwest passage. Virginia was built to use in this exploration but was then used to return some of the colonists to England. She later returned to America to resupply Jamestown, The Popham Colony’s southern sister colony. The reconstruction is being built in and around the Bath Freight Shed in Bath Maine. The Bath area, twelve miles upriver of the Popham Colony became a major shipbuilding site and this reconstruction honors the 400 years of quality shipbuilding in the area. The Bath Freight Shed is that last warehouse in the area which in the 1850s was the fifth largest port in the United States. MFS is dedicated to maintaining this building and making it available as a community center.

Maine's First Ship partnered up with Friends of Seguin Island Light Station to ferry some of their guests to their end-o...
08/31/2026

Maine's First Ship partnered up with Friends of Seguin Island Light Station to ferry some of their guests to their end-of-season gathering yesterday. Thanks to Karissa Davan for the photo!

LAST DAY: Downeast Ship Modelers Guild exposition: 70-80 models from some of the best ship model crafts people in the s...
08/29/2026

LAST DAY: Downeast Ship Modelers Guild exposition: 70-80 models from some of the best ship model crafts people in the state on display in the Bath Freight Shed alongside the MFS museum exhibits. Enjoy the ship models plus our interpretive displays on the history of the and step onboard our reconstruction of the pinnace Virginia, inspired by the original built in 1607-1608.

We’re really excited to be included in the Maine Atlas along with other true icons of Maine!
08/28/2026

We’re really excited to be included in the Maine Atlas along with other true icons of Maine!

In 1607 at the mouth of the Kennebec River on Hossketch Point, a group of 100 English colonizers led by Captain George Popham established a fragile foothold settlement 13 years before the Pilgrams landed in Plimouth. The Popham Colony was the first organized attempt by the English to establish a col...

The light was lovely upriver behind Virginia as she returned to the dock under cloud cover following her evening sail la...
08/28/2026

The light was lovely upriver behind Virginia as she returned to the dock under cloud cover following her evening sail last Friday (8/21). This photo does not do it justice.

Is still a thing? Found this from November of 2022 the other day...
08/27/2026

Is still a thing? Found this from November of 2022 the other day...

It's apparently National Dog Day. Look at that face and honestly tell me that you are upset about a break from ship phot...
08/26/2026

It's apparently National Dog Day. Look at that face and honestly tell me that you are upset about a break from ship photos. Don't worry, we will be back to more and focused content soon. 🐾

Hot Pot on the horizon: Chinese Hot Pot in celebration of the Harvest Moon on September 26, continuing a Full Moon Dinn...
08/26/2026

Hot Pot on the horizon: Chinese Hot Pot in celebration of the Harvest Moon on September 26, continuing a Full Moon Dinner tradition at the Bath Freight Shed. Get the details and your tickets at mfship.org/events.

A break from a day of meetings here meant a bit of sun and a wave to the folks on the Merrymeeting out from Maine Mariti...
08/25/2026

A break from a day of meetings here meant a bit of sun and a wave to the folks on the Merrymeeting out from Maine Maritime Museum yesterday.

Downeast Ship Modelers Guild exposition: 70-80 models from some of the best ship model crafts people in the state on dis...
08/24/2026

Downeast Ship Modelers Guild exposition: 70-80 models from some of the best ship model crafts people in the state on display in the Bath Freight Shed alongside the MFS museum exhibits. Enjoy the ship models plus our interpretive displays on the history of the and step onboard our reconstruction of the pinnace Virginia, inspired by the original built in 1607-1608.

After Virginia was done with her work for the day on Wednesday, someone else was still sailing.
08/23/2026

After Virginia was done with her work for the day on Wednesday, someone else was still sailing.

Address

Maine's First Ship, 27 Commercial Street
Bath, ME
04530

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+12074434242

Website

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