Next Adventure Series
If you enjoy art and history, Mid-Coast Maine is chock full of museums and historical sites for you to experience. Within an hour of The Bradley Inn, you will find enough to keep you busy for a few days. The following are perfect places to visit in May and June before the summer crowds, plus you can choose an indoor site vs an outdoor site based upon the weather of the day.
The Farnsworth Museum | 207-596-6457 | email | website
Located: 16 Museum Street, Rockland, ME 04841
Fee: Adults $15, Seniors 65 and older $13
Distance from The Bradley Inn: 40 miles
The Farnsworth Art Museum, in Rockland, celebrates Maine’s role in American art, with a collection of about 15,000 works. It’s Wyeth Center showcases three generations of Wyeths in Maine: NC, Andrew, and James. Go for the day to enjoy the museum as well as downtown Rockland with its galleries, shops and restaurants.
Bowdoin Museum of Art | 207-725-3000 | email | website
Located: 9400 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011
Fee: Free
Distance from The Bradley Inn: 40 miles
The Bowdoin Museum of Art contains more than 25,000 objects created over 5,000 years with a global and transhistorical scope. It includes an antiquities collection with over 1,800 objects: Assyrian, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Byzantine and Chinese, a collection of Old World European and colonial American paintings, a paper collection with prints, drawings and photographs numbering at more than 12,000 works from around the world, as well as sculpture, decorative art, medals and new media art. The museum is located on the Bowdoin College Campus in the heart of Brunswick. Spend a day taking in the museum exhibits as well as walking along this college town’s main street with its shops and restaurants.
Monhegan Museum of Art & History | 207-596-7003 | email | website
Located: 1 Lighthouse Hill, Monhegan (Island), ME 04852
Fee: Adults $10
Distance from The Bradley Inn: 2.6 miles to the Hardy Boat Cruise Dock to catch the ferry.
The Monhegan Museum of Art & History focuses on art works of Monhegan Island, with a collection of over 1,300 pieces completed by artists that have been going to the island for over 150 years. The buildings were originally designed and built by Rockwell Kent, in the early 1900’s, for himself as a studio and art school. Start the day on the water, taking the ferry from New Harbor out to the island, then enjoy a hike and the museum. Bring along something to eat or find a nice place for lunch, then back on the ferry to New Harbor. What a fun day!
Colonial Pemaquid/Fort William Henry at Pemaquid | 207-677-2423 | website
Located: Old Fort Road, New Harbor, Me 04554
Fee: Adult Maine Resident $3 Adult Non-Maine Resident $4 Senior Non-Maine Resident $1
Distance from The Bradley Inn: 2.8 miles
Fort William Henry was built in 1692 by the English to fortify the frontiers of its Massachusetts colony, the largest of its time in New England. It is rich in archeological history as one of New England’s earliest communities. Today, the remaining structures contain interpretive panels and artifact exhibits. There is also a beautiful view from the roof of the fort. Bring a picnic and sit on the lawn or go to The Contented Sole to enjoy lunch on the wharf.
Maine Maritime Museum | 207-443-1316| website
Located: 243 Washington Street, Bath, ME 04530
Fee: Adult $20, Senior $18
Distance from The Bradley Inn: 16 miles
The Maine Maritime Museum sits on a 20-acre campus right on the Kennebec River. Situated in Bath, “The City of Ships”, the museum is dedicated to promoting an understanding and appreciation of Maine’s maritime history and culture. It represents the only remaining large wooden sailing vessel shipyards in our country. They also offer daily cruises on the river from which you can get an up-close look at the Bath Iron Works Shipyard and the Navy vessels under construction. After touring the site go to downtown Bath’s Main Street for a bite to eat or to shop.
Owls Head Transportation Museum | 207-594-4418 | website
Located: 117 Museum Street, Owls Head, ME 04854
Fee: Adults $14 Seniors $12
Distance from The Bradley Inn: 26 miles
The Owls Head Transportation Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and operate pre-1940 aircraft, ground vehicles, engines and related technologies significant to the evolution of transportation for the purpose of education, with more than 150 items in its collection. After experiencing the museum drive out to the Owls Head Lighthouse to take in the awesome view of Penobscot Bay and its many islands. Afterwards meander to Rockland or back to Damariscotta for lunch and shopping.
Do not forget to check for hours and dates/days open to plan your trip. Fees are subject to change.
Complete your day at The Bradley Inn Restaurant with a drink and a great meal, followed by a fabulous night’s rest in one of our inviting guest rooms!
