Bringing Big Jim Back to Life at PMM
A Restoration Project Celebrating Maine’s Maritime Heritage DonateHelp Us Restore Big Jim
The Penobscot Marine Museum is leading a project to restore “Big Jim,” the 40-foot-tall Maine fisherman who has stood as a proud symbol of our coastal heritage for more than six decades.
In partnership with Bold Coast Seafood—the new owners of the former Stinson Cannery— and the Gouldsboro Historical Society, we’re breathing new life into this beloved roadside icon so that the story of Maine’s sardine industry and the generations who worked in it will never be forgotten.
About Big Jim
Erected in 1959 along Route 1 in Kittery, Big Jim welcomed visitors to Sardineland and Vacationland. Holding a sardine can, he was part of a creative campaign by the Maine Sardine Council to celebrate and promote the state’s sardine industry.
His image quickly became more than just advertising—it became a tribute to the hardworking men and women whose labor powered Maine’s coastal economy for over a century.
In the late 1960s, Big Jim was moved to Prospect Harbor, remade from plywood to aluminum, and stationed outside the Stinson Cannery, which would go on to become the last operating sardine cannery in the United States until it closed in 2010.
Though weathered and now holding a lobster trap instead of a sardine can, Big Jim still stands watch—a steadfast reminder of Maine’s maritime “glory days.”
Our Plan to Restore Big Jim
With your help, we’ll return Big Jim to his original 1959 look and ensure he continues to inspire future generations.
Here’s how the project will unfold:
Raise $30,000 to fund restoration (with many services generously discounted)
Remove Big Jim by crane and transport him from Prospect Harbor to Belfast
Strip, prime, and repair his 12 aluminum panels
Repaint Big Jim in his original design with help from mural artists at the WOW Collective
Install Big Jim at PMM on Route 1 in Searsport next spring as part of the second year of our Sardineland exhibit
Celebrate his restoration with visitors throughout the summer season
Return Big Jim home to Bold Coast Seafood in Prospect Harbor in the fall to resume his post overlooking the harbor
Why This Matters
The sardine industry was once the economic heart of Maine’s coastal communities, employing tens of thousands of people. Restoring Big Jim honors their work, their families, and the enduring spirit of the Maine coast.
This project isn’t just about preserving a sign—it’s about preserving a story.
How You Can Help
We can’t do it without you!
Your donation—large or small—will help fund materials, transport, restoration, and the talented Maine artists bringing Big Jim back to life.
Donate today and be part of Maine history in the making. Together, we’ll make sure Big Jim stands tall for generations to come.
Sponsors
Thank you to our corporate sponsors who have helped us raise funds to restore Big Jim!
