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| View of Penobscot Bay at Castine, Maine |
Since the very beginning of
the colonization of what is now the United States of America, Penobscot Bay has
been witness to some very important moments in the nation’s history. Walking through the streets of Castine,
Searsport, or numerous other coastal Maine communities along Penobscot Bay,
will point you to memories of a rich maritime past, as well as the historic charm so delicately woven
into its present day beauty.
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| Castine provides signage for a walking tour of historic sights. |
By land or by sea, the area
is well worth nosing around in for tourists and locals alike. I strongly suggest
you enjoy it from both angles to fully appreciate Penobscot Bay from all
perspectives. Guildive
Cruises offers you an opportunity to do just that on its Down East excursions
with Ports of Call in both Castine and Searsport scheduled through the end of
September. Guildive's Captains, Zander Parker and Kate Kana, have both sailed the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans extensively and are pleased to offer public sails
onboard the vintage 1934, 56’ long, 46-ton, motorsail, Guildive as an added
summer attraction on picturesque Penobscot Bay.
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| Guildive Under Sail Photo Courtesy of Guildive Cruises |
The Guildive is docked in Castine with
excursions departing from Dennett’s Wharf at 15 Sea Street. It also offers
two-hour sails departing from the Public Wharf on Steamboat Avenue in Searsport
on Mondays and Saturdays with Penobscot Marine Museum admission included in the
ticket price; a great way to enjoy a complete seafaring experience from start
to finish as you can even take a picnic lunch along to enjoy during your
cruise. Besides its regular excursions, Guildive Cruises offers customized and
specialty sails for bird watchers, artists and writers, private events, and even
a full moon sail for stargazers on July 14-16 and August 12-14. Reservations
are suggested, as space is limited to six persons per voyage. 
In either Castine or Searsport, you can’t
help but want to tour the town and soak in the history that’s so evident in its
buildings and preserved by its dedicated historians and community members. Just
walking through Castine is a history lesson as you read signage of major events that have taken place there. To view more treasures of the past, a visit to
the Wilson Museum on Perkins Street is always a good place to start.
Admission is free, except for guided tours of the John Perkins House.
The Castine Historical Society on School Street is another great resource. |
| Summer Folk, Penobscot Marine Museum 2012 Exhibit |
Searsport proudly hails the Penobscot Maritime
Museum. It's Maine’s oldest maritime museum, and designed as a 19th century seafaring village, providing a home for a regionally important library and archives focused on maritime history—plus the genealogy of the Penobscot Bay area. The area has been a tourist destination for more
than 150 years, the theme of Penobscot Marine Museum's 2012 exhibits and events is Summer Folk,
The Tourists of Penobscot Bay, spanning time from steamship to motorcar.
For more information click these links:
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| Blae at Dyce Head Lighthouse Castine, Maine |
You can read more about
Guildive Cruises and other coastal Maine attractions in an issue of theSCENE, an
entertainment magazine published monthly by Courier Publications LLC in
Rockland, Maine.
© 2012 Copyright Gail J.
VanWart All Rights Reserved
