Sights

Belfast Museum

The quirky culture of Belfast extends even to its history. The Belfast Museum (10 Market St., Belfast, 207/338-9229, www.belfastmuseum.org [1], mid-June.–mid-Oct., free) contains a mishmash of interesting exhibits, including a recreated 19th century pharmacy and jail, and an homage to Belfast’s most famous balloonist. While you are there, pick up a brochure for a self-guided walking tour of the many Victorian buildings in Belfast’s downtown area.

Penobscot Marine Museum

While not as slick as the Maine Maritime Museum [2] down the coast, the Penobscot Marine Museum (5 Church St., Searsport, 207/548-2529, www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org [3], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; noon–5 p.m. Sun., $8 adults, $3 children 7–15, free children 6 and under, $18 family) wins points for authenticity. Many of the original historic buildings in Searsport [4] village have been preserved and filled with antiques and artwork gathered from the families of the captains who once sailed from the port. A particularly interesting exhibit in the old town hall traces the little-known history of Maine’s [5] contribution to international shipping during the golden years of the windjammers.

Liberty Tool Company

Seventeen miles west of Belfast [4], the three-story Liberty Tool Company (57 Main St./Rte. 173, Liberty, 207/589-4771, www.jonesport-wood.com [6], 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily Mar.–Dec.; 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Jan.) is worth a detour for its astounding collection of 10,000 tools and countless nuts, bolts, and washers dutifully sorted into hundreds of tiny bins. Across the street, a museum showcases antique tools as well as artwork and Native American artifacts.

Bryant’s Stove & Music Museum

Even further down Route 3, the deliciously quirky Bryant’s Stove & Music Museum (27 Stovepipe Alley, Thorndike, 207/568-3665, www.bryantstove.com [7], 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., donations accepted) showcases the extraordinary collection of John Bryant, who has gathered more than a dozen antique cast-iron stoves, which are as much works of art as they are pieces of cooking equipment. Other exhibits in the ambitious museum include antique cars, music boxes, and a one-of-a-kind “doll circus.”