Maine's First Ship | LinkedIn (2025)

Maine’s First Ship strives to use our reconstruction of the 1607 pinnace Virginia to immerse the public in an exploration of the region’s early history, craftsmanship, and relationships, and their impact on our community and environment today.Virginia was the first English ocean-going vessel built in the Americas. Our reconstruction is being done by volunteers in and around the Bath Freight Shed in Bath Maine. The Freight Shed is about 10 miles north of the Popham Colony site, which was located in what is now Phippsburg Maine at the mouth of the Kennebec River. We maintain the Bath Freight Shed as a museum, for shipbuilding, and as a community center.Some of our volunteers work on the construction of Virginia and its rigging, others work as docents at the Visitor Center, others work on educational and community programs. All positions are unpaid volunteer roles.

Website

https://mfship.org/

External link for Maine's First Ship

Industry

Education

Company size

2-10 employees

Headquarters

Bath, Maine

Type

Nonprofit

• Primary

  27 Commercial St

  Bath, Maine 04530, US

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• Keith Spiro Business Strategist, Community Builder synthesizing digital and traditional tools of communications to improve connection for humans.
• Orman Hines President at Maine's First Ship
• Matthew Blazek Director of Educational Operations, Maine’s First Ship
• Kirstie Truluck Executive at Maine's First Ship

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• Maine's First Ship

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  Fair Winds to our departing Executive Director 🙏

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  See Also

  Built Almost Entirely of Wood, These Lakeside Cabins Take ‘Simple’ to the Extreme - Maine Home + Design2024 AIA Maine Design Awards - Maine Home + DesignDelivered & Installed Wood Sheds

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  Since 1607, the area around Bath Maine has been noted for building strong ships capable of crossing large oceans. Here at Maine's First Ship we are looking for docents and volunteers to help strengthen our organization. BUT, if you are looking for full time employment, here's a great opportunity with our neighbor just down river from us on the Kennebec: General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works: (tell them Maine's First Ship sent you).

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  Congratulations Matthew Blazek on your evolving role at Maine's First Ship. #education #ingenuity #community https://lnkd.in/eZB-Ax7E

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  Here's an insider's tip for the best kept secret in Midcoast Maine. Well ok, not such a secret to locals but available tour slots are being gobbled up quickly...Got kiddo’s? Last Call for July on-deck tours of our pretty little pinnace Virginia.We have just 6 spaces left for Thursday July 18th. Beyond that only August 3rd and August 15th still have availability.Got Time? No kiddos? We still have volunteer slots for #museumdocentsThis is NOT your grandparents museum. Hands on fun –To volunteer, email mfs@mfship.orgsubject: #DocentsThis might be the one last way to get onboard this season.#historyingenuitycommunity

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  This weekend, we celebrate 17th Century Days at Colonial Pemaquid. Maine's First Ship, "Virginia" and her older (but smaller) sister, the shallop "Jane Stevens" will be at Colonial Pemaquid Saturday and Sunday July 13-14, 2024. Come and visit the rough and tumble world of 17th century Maine, if only for a glimpse of the past. We are History - Ingenuity - Community all rolled into one. Share the news Jim Britt

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  History buffs: interested in the 250th anniversary of the Arnold expedition? Read more about Maine's role in it. We are proud of our head shipwright, Rob Stevens, who has already "taken Quebec" once by bateau. Thank you Stephanie Bouchard and Island Institute for highlighting the ongoing shipbuilding efforts. https://lnkd.in/gY2uH62E #History #Ingenuity #Community #wooden #ships

  ‘Taking’ Quebec by boat https://www.islandinstitute.org

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  We are honored to be in the cover photo of this year's visitor's map of downtown Bath, Maine. We've spent this past year spreading the word across the boating world and now, visitors to #Maine will be able to see and get deck tours of our pretty little pinnace. Come visit us.

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  June 4, 2024Today we celebrate the second anniversary of the launch of Maine’s First Ship, the pinnace Virginia.The original was built at Popham (just North of today’s Bath, Maine) in 1607 and the reconstructionhas been a more than 20 year long quest for our volunteers and organizations that champion this small but important piece of early American Maritime History.Here is the reprint of the News! A centerfold spread documenting the launch of Virginia on June 4, 2022.It was a big day for volunteers and supporters alike.Some 5,000 people attended the launch which was widely covered by news media and wooden ship enthusiasts. Our river neighbor, General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works gave us a warm welcome as the second most active ship builder in Bath, Maine.

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  Maine is a state of many Firsts. The pinnace Virgina, the first English built ship in the Americas, celebrated its return to Bath, Maine with a family friendly Maypole dance.Midcoast Maine claims the first American celebration of May Day. May of 1622 on Damariscove Island. While it was only sailors back then, we welcome everyone to join in.The maypole has been stored until next year, but we have deck visits and future sailings listed on our website. Visit now during our summer hours Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 3pm. #History #ingenuity #community #woodenships

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  Halfway Rock as seen from Virginia, currently motoring her way to Portland and Virginia arriving at 4pm Monday May 6, 2024 dockside. Big city visit! She'll be hauled out of the water for the first time since her launch back in June 2022. A chance for volunteers to get some dry dock work done scraping, painting, & USCG hull inspection. Our "pretty pinnace" will be in Portland for about a week getting ready for summer!Many thanks to Portland Yacht Services for their expertise. Our reconstruction of a 400 year old ship appreciates their more than 800 years of combined ship maintenance and repair experience!!#1607pinnace #mainesfirstship #historyingenuitycommunity

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