A Summer Visit to Bath, Maine

Laurie and I spent a few days in Bath, Maine this summer.  We visit often, usually staying at Mulberry House, a bed and breakfast on Washington Street.  

Our hosts: Bill and Diane Racine

This location gives us an easy walk past many beautiful old homes and to the downtown area for the shops and restaurants, to the magnificent library, and to the Waterfront Park where concerts are held in the summer and where the Farmer’s Market sets up on Saturday mornings during the warm months (and indoors nearby during the cold months).

This is a panorama I did of the Patten Free Library.
It is situated right at the edge of the downtown area. 

Below: Saturday morning Farmers Market at Waterfront Park

Below: Gathering for a Friday night summer concert (also on a few Wednesdays)

I like to walk in the morning and, with my camera in hand, it was nice to head downtown early Saturday and Sunday morning before the shops opened and while the traffic was negligible (about 7 a.m.-ish).

Bath is a coastal town with a rich seafaring history.  It is commonly known as “The City of Ships”.  

One of the first ships built in the "New World" was built here in the 1600s. Shipbuilding began in earnest in the 1700s, and at one time there were more than 200 shipbuilding companies lining the Kennebec river, the river providing access to the sea.  In the mid-1800s Bath was the nation’s fifth largest seaport. So much has changed, as today’s population is less than 9,000.  

Still operating is the Bath Iron Works, founded in 1884. Most of the ships built there have been for the U.S. Navy. Recently completed for the Navy was the stealth destroyer USS Thomas Hudner.  Bath Iron Works operates as a division of General Dynamics Corporation.

Route 1 is the main artery along the coast, and it crosses the Kennebec River in Bath.  On the ocean side of Route 1 is the Bath Iron Works.  On the other side is the center of Bath.  It is beautiful and classic.  I’ve tried to show that in the early morning photos below, taken on Saturday and Sunday one weekend in July.

A Visit to the Farmers' Market, Bath Maine

On our drive up the Maine coast a couple of times a year, we have taken to spending a night or two in City of Bath (population 9,000).  Known for the Bath Iron Works, Bath has a quintessential Maine downtown area on the north side (upriver side) of the Route 1 bridge, with BIW being on the south side (ocean and downriver side) of the bridge.  

The nearly 3,000 foot long Sagadahoc Bridge over the Kennebec River as viewed from Waterfront Park.
On the far side of the bridge is the town of Woolrich, Maine.

Our stops in Bath have usually coincided with the Saturday Farmers' Market, which sets up at Waterfront Park, from 8:30-12:00, May through October.  (The winter indoor venue is about a block away, November through April.)

Though the veggies always look great, we are more likely to leave with local cheese and bread. So far, I've avoided the pie vendors.  Maybe next time... I can't hold out forever.

All photos below were with the Olympus E-M1 and 12-100mm zoom.