Child-Friendly Activities and Exhibits

The museum is definitely child-friendly. Some kids max out quickly at traditional “look, don’t touch” museums, so we’ve got lots of fun stuff to touch and do. And when they’re done with the exhibits, there’s plenty of room to run, play, and picnic on our spacious campus.

Set Sail

What was it like to sail on a square-rigger? Find out in the Set Sail Demonstration. Kids can steer a real ship’s wheel. Walk around the capstan and listen to its rhythmic clanking as they pretend to raise the anchor. Or climb out on the footropes on a large model of a ship’s mast to furl the sail.

Savage Education Center

Savage Education Center is a play-and-learning area full of hands-on activities. Children can dress up in 19th century costumes and purchase provisions in a chandler’s shop or make a meal in a ship’s galley. Other activities include exploring ship models, tying maritime knots, spelling with signal flags, or learning to play Skittles. Visitors of all ages will discover something new in this interactive space.

At Home, At Sea: Crew’s Life

At the entrance to the At Home, At Sea exhibit in the Fowler-True-Ross House, the Crew’s Life explores the lives of the sailors. Children can climb the rigging, swab the deck, and sing sea chanteys in this interactive exhibit.

Look Around – There’s More!

Don’t hesitate to take children through the “adult” exhibits too! There are hands-on activities for children in most exhibit buildings, and kids are often fascinated to see our exhibits of boats, ships, and the way people lived in days gone by.

Junior Adventures

Junior Adventures takes place on Wednesdays in July from 11am to 3pm and is included with museum admission. These drop-in programs are designed for children and their families to have fun at the museum. Each will explore a different topic that relates to our exhibits. Families can read together, do a craft, play a game, and go on a scavenger hunt.

Daily Activities

While the museum’s exhibits are open, we offer daily activities including crafts and Set Sail demonstrations. These daily activities are included with museum admission. Check our schedule here.

Ships (B)log

The Ships (B)log is a family-friendly place to explore stories from the Penobscot Marine Museum’s collections. Readers of all ages can discover posts about historic ships, life at sea, and the people and communities that shaped Maine’s maritime past. Along the way, you’ll find fascinating photographs, fun discoveries from the archives, and engaging stories that make maritime history accessible and enjoyable for the whole family. Explore the Ships (B)log here.