Islesboro Sailors' Memorial Museum

Hours: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 9:30 to 4:30, Sunday 12:30 to 4:30 (closed for lunch)
Appointments Available

Museum Mission Statement

The Islesboro Sailors' Memorial Museum seeks to preserve and display the history of its seafaring people
and to present our community’s reliance on the waterfront as a way of life.

About the Museum

The Islesboro Sailors' Memorial museum was established in 1938 through the vision and generosity of Alice L. Pendleton and Arline Pendelton. Since then, it has served as an important site of preservation for the history of Islesboro's marine and seafaring people. The museum is located inside the old keeper's house at the Grindle Point Light Station which was built in 1850. Guests are invited to step into history and experience artifacts from sailors' global voyages, the story of our island ferry, and much more.

For many years, the light station has been threatened by the effects of storm surge and sea level rise. This has left the low-lying structure vulnerable to frequent flooding and high levels of humidity that have caused damage to our artifact collection and displays.

With the reopening in Summer 2023, exhibits are designed to create community conversation on the effects of global sea level rise and the current climate crisis. The permanent and rotating exhibits will educate and inspire Islesboro's year-round and summer community members and visitors.

On July 1st, 2023, the first floor of the museum will be open to visitors. The museum is located on Grindle Point with a scenic view of the Camden Hills and easy access from the ferry terminal.

The Museum's Online Collection

Click here to view the online collection. To view the original documentation of the collection by Bunny Logan and Marcy Congdon,
archivists for the Islesboro Historical Society click here

News Articles About the Museum

Read an article written by Liv Lenfestey, Island Fellow, published in the Working Waterfront Holding History: Archiving Islesboro Past

Museum Brochure

Click brochure image for larger view