MOOSEHEAD MARINE MUSEUM

The Moosehead Marine Museum invites you to experience history. Step aboard the Katahdin for a leisurely cruise to enjoy the natural beauty and history of Moosehead Lake.

A National Historic Landmark, the Katahdin, more than any other remaining piece of Moosehead's history, truly reflects the many eras, interests, and businesses of the region's past and present. Built in 1914 by the young shipyard Bath Iron Works, the steamboat Katahdin was later converted to diesel, and has become the final link to a bygone era.

Steamboat history began on Moosehead Lake in 1836. As many as fifty boats once steamed across the lake carrying passengers, livestock, mail, supplies and equipment to the large resorts like Mt. Kineo as well as the small hunting camps and villages on the lake.

By the late 1930's, with the development of roads around Moosehead, only the Katahdin remained. Used as a towboat to haul booms of logs until 1975, she participated in the nation's last log drive and was designated a National Historic Landmark.

In 1976, the Moosehead Marine Museum was founded and it acquired the Katahdin as its star exhibit. In addition to the Katahdin, the Museum has an extensive collection of steamboat memorabilia and early photographs of the Moosehead area, and is dedicated to preserving the glorious days of steamboating and the marine heritage of the Moosehead Lake Region. The Katahdin is owned and operated by the Moosehead Marine Museum, a non-profit organization.

In 1994, a 5-year fund raising campaign was established in efforts to raise $500,000 to restore the vessel.In the past 15 years over $800,000 has been raised and invested in the restoration of the Katahdin. Details are available from the executive director. Please call Duke McKeil at (207) 695-2716.