The museum has developed two new trolley tours, “The Bath Iron Works Story” and the “Historic Bath Architecture: The City that Ships Built” in response to the BIW decision to suspend the museum’s popular shipyard drive-thru tours because of safety and security concerns during a period of heightened shipyard construction and shipbuilding activity.
“When we first learned of the BIW decision, we went to work on replacement programs immediately,” said Amy Lent, executive director of the
museum, “and we quickly concluded that the situation presented an opportunity to look at how we were telling the BIW story and find ways to do it better.
“What’s happening at BIW is a critically important story for Maine and the nation and one that should be told,” Lent continues. “So we rallied our staff and volunteers to develop a tour that would tell the story in a more engaging and informative manner. What they’ve come up with is even better than the old tour and tells a more complete story.”
The most critical part of the previous “Behind the Scenes Tour,” has been retained, according to the museum’s Director of Public Programs Jason Morin. “Visitors have told us that hearing the story from ‘insiders’ is the most compelling part of the tour, so current and previous employees of BIW will continue to serve as tour guides. Giving visitors the opportunity to meet, listen to and ask questions of actual BIW shipyard workers was at the core of their experience,” he says. “Visitors enjoy it almost as much as the BIW workers enjoy sharing information about their shipyard’s history and culture.”
The new tour begins with a new introductory video that features employees explaining the building process for the Navy’s most advanced warships beginning with the basic metal cutting and welding, progressing through assembly, launch, outfitting, sea trails and final sail-away to join the fleet. Visitors then board the trolley for a rolling tour past the BIW yard and through Bath with key elements related to the shipyard and its history highlighted by their “insider” guide. The tour will be offered Monday through Saturday beginning on June 2 and running through October 11.
The second new tour, developed with the assistance of Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc., is called, “Historic Bath Architecture: The City than Ships Built,” and focuses on the impact that shipbuilding had on the architecture and life of the city, which bustled with maritime activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
“The city of Bath has such an interesting and important past.” said Lent. “This new tour will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to get a glimpse into the lives of the fascinating individuals who played key roles in the development of our state and our nation, while seeing examples of the outstanding architecture influenced by Maine’s global maritime activity.”
Tickets for both tours and additional information are available on the museum’s website at www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org.
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