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BUCKSPORT, SEARSPORT, BELFAST
Bucksport is primarily a mill town, its existence dependent on the huge International Paper plant on the north edge of town. But before you dismiss it entirely, drive along Main Street and stop in at Northeast Historic Film, located in the old Alamo Theater. It began primarily as an archives to collect and preserve New England’s film heritage but its scope has expanded and now includes a museum of sorts, exhibits on New England film history and a shop where you can purchase videos and books. In addition to screening films from its own collection, The Alamo also shows “almost first run” films on weekends. Stroll along Bucksport’s recently landscaped waterfront for a fantastic view across the Penobscot River to the high, graceful suspension bridge that spans it. Just at the far end of the bridge lies Fort Knox, a massive granite fortress built in the 1840s to defend against Canada in a border dispute. The fort was manned during the Civil War and Spanish American War but never came close to any action. Today it is a fascinating maze of earthworks, long dim hallways, hidden courtyards and granite staircases. A flashlight will come in handy as you make your way through some of the darker rooms. There are also picnic tables on the grounds if you’ve brought lunch along. Searsport, just a few minutes drive beyond Bucksport, was a thriving shipping port in the 19th century and many of the huge mansions that line Route 1 were built as ships captains’ homes. This maritime heritage is well documented in the Penobscot Marine Museum, a complex of 13 buildings filled with informative exhibits on ship design, trade routes, shipboard life and more. There are extensive collections of maritime paintings, portraits, Chinese imports and laquerware, scrimshaw and photographs. Eight of the museum’s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. If Harbor Church is open as you pass by, be sure to stop in for a look at its nine Tiffany stained glass windows. The church is one of only 10 buildings in the country where all of the windows are Tiffany-designed. 
Searsport is the self-proclaimed “Antiques Capital of Maine” so, if you enjoy antiquing, be sure to allow time for browsing through at least some of its many shops. The Searsport Antique Mall brings together the collections of more than 70 dealers and the Pumpkin Patch also represents multiple dealers in quality antiques. If you’re in town on a weekend, check out the Searsport Flea Market with dozens of tables and displays filled with an astonishing array of collectibles. If you enjoy lighthouses, you’ll find the Fort Point Lighthouse here as well. Belfast, a coastal town that dates back to 1770, has historically been a commercial center. In the 19th century, its industry centered on shipbuilding and in the earlier part of the 20th, Belfast was the site of large poultry processing plants. Following the demise of the poultry industry in Maine, Belfast fell on hard times but the decision by MBNA (a major credit card company) to locate its headquarters there has brought new life to the town. It has become a haven for artists whose work is shown in several downtown galleries. The main streets near the waterfront also boast a number of quality shops (Coyote Moon and the Fertile Mind Bookshop being two of our favorites) as well as several restaurants. If you’re a railroad buff, you might enjoy an excursion aboard the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. The train, with its coaches dating from the 1920s, leaves from the old waterfront rail yard and follows along the river to Waldo where a fake train robbery is staged before the return trip to Belfast. The round trip takes a little less than two hours. |
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