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flag  History of Bath, Maine, USA

Journey back in time to Bath, Maine, USA

Visit Bath, Maine, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.

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Bath, Maine, USA - Erudition School House, 1794

Bath, Sagadahoc, Maine, USA

Bath had its name transferred from the city in England.
How New England Towns Received Their Names
The Day
New London, Connecticut
October 21, 1914

Bath is known as "The City of Ships" because of the many sailing ships built in its shipyards. The city's maritime history dates back to 1607 when the first ship built in the New World by English settlers was launched. Bath is still home to the Bath Iron Works shipbuilders.

There is MUCH more to discover about Bath, Maine, USA. Read on!

Bath Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Bath, Maine, USA

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Erudition School House, "1794"

Bath, Maine, USA

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Brig Clarissa Ann, Bath, Maine, 1824
Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, Maine

Bath, Maine, USA

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Center Street in 1889
Leading Business Men of LEWISTON, AUGUSTA and VICINITY, BOSTON, MERCANTILE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1889

Bath, Maine, USA

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Old Ladies Home

Bath, Maine, USA

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M.C.R.R. Station, Bath, Maine.

Bath, Maine, USA

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Front Street from Opera House, 1904

Bath, Maine, USA

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The Morse High School, 1905

Bath, Maine, USA

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Washington Street from Elm. Bath, Maine. (1907)

Bath, Maine, USA

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Maine Court House and Soldiers Monument

Bath, Maine, USA

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St. Mary's Catholic Church

Bath, Maine, USA

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The Shannon House, 1908

Bath, Maine, USA

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Center Street, 1910

Bath, Maine, USA

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King Tavern, Home of first Gov. of Maine, Gov. King

Bath, Maine, USA

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Peoples Baptist Church

Bath, Maine, USA

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Wesley M.E. Church

Bath, Maine, USA

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Front St. Bath Me.

Bath, Maine, USA

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Front Street, 1910

Bath, Maine, USA

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Hotel Phoenix

Bath, Maine, USA

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Sagadahoe Square, Front St.

Bath, Maine, USA

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Winter St. Congregational Church

Bath, Maine, USA

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Post Office and Custom House

Bath, Maine, USA

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View on the Kennebec River, 1914

Bath, Maine, USA

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City Park and Fountain and Winter St. Church

Bath, Maine, USA

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Orphan Home

Bath, Maine, USA

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Launching a Torpedo Boat Destroyer, Bath Iron Works

Bath, Maine, USA

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New Meadows Inn

Bath, Maine, USA

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Centre Street, Bath, Maine. Paul Revere Bell in Belfry of City Hall, 1919

Bath, Maine, USA

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Public Library, Bath, Maine

Bath, Maine, USA

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"Stone House" Ex-Gov. King's Residence

Bath, Maine, USA

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Washington Street

Bath, Maine, USA

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Carlton Bridge

Bath, Maine, USA

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Hotel Sedgwick

Bath, Maine, USA

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Center Street, looking East

Bath, Maine, USA

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Front Street

Bath, Maine, USA

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Bath Iron Works Office

Discover Bath: History, News, Travel, and Stories

Add informationAdd History/News/Story
  • 1781 - Bath formed from a part of Georgetown

    maineanencyclopedia.com/ georgetown/
  • 1833 - Bath Iron Foundry established on the Kennebec River

    http://maineanencyclopedia.com/
  • 1839 - Bath
    Bath, Maine
    In the county of Lincoln, is situated on the west bank of Kennebec river, 12 miles from the sea, 32 N.E. of Portland, and 31 S. from Augusta. It is bounded E. by Kennebec river, S. by Phipsburg, W. by New Meadows river and Brunswick, and N. by Merrymeeting bay. Population, in 1830, 3,773; in 1835, 4,200; and in 1837, 4,523. Incorporated, 1780. An attempt was made by a missionary to settle this place, and preach to the fishermen, as early as 1670. But the Indians would not permit it. A permanent settlement was made in 1756. The principal business of Bath is commerce, trade and ship-building, for which it is admirably located. There belonged to this port in 1835, 26 ships, 32 brigs, 54 schooners, and smaller vessels. Tonnage of the district of Bath, including the waters of Kennebec river, in 1837, 41,728 tons. Total number of vessels belonging to the district of Bath, in 1835, 37 ships, 94 brigs, 195 schooners, 10 sloops, and 1 steam-boat. Total, 337. The harbor of Bath is... Read MORE...

  • On June 14, 1847 Bath was incorporated as a city

    http://maineanencyclopedia.com/bath/
  • 1854 - Bath
    Bath, a city and port of entry of Lincoln county, Maine, on the right bank of Kennebec river, 16 miles from its mouth. By rail road it is 34 miles N. E. from Portland, 80 miles S. from Augusta, 111 miles N. E. from Boston. The city extends about 1 1/ 2 mile along the bank of the river, and nearly one mile back. The surface is rather uneven, sloping gradually towards the east. The streets are regular and generally intersect each other at right angles. With the exception of one or two localities, the place is not very compactly built. Many of the buildings are at considerable distances from each other, and are surrounded with spacious yards, ornamented with shade-trees and shrubbery. In the business of ship-building, Bath is surpassed only by New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Forty-eight vessels, with an aggregate burden of 24.339 tons, were ad measured in the district during the year ending June 30th, 1852. Of these, 40 were ships, 6 brigs, and 3 schooners. This port also ranks the... Read MORE...

  • News  1854 - The Destructive Gate - Its Effects at the East.
    ...The depot at the Bath junction was blown over upon the track, and the telegraph wires were broken...

    The New York Times
    New York, New York
    March 21, 1854
  • 1859
    BATH, a sea-port in Lincoln co., in the state of Maine, U. S., 37 m. S of Augusta, on the W bank of the Kennebec, 12 m. from the ocean. Pop. in 1801, 2,491; in 1840, 5,141. It is one of the principal commercial towns in Maine. The tonnage of the port in 1840 amounted to 64,035 tons. Steam-boats ply three-fourths of the year between Bath and Portland a Boston. Ship-building is an extensive business here.
    A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859
  • Beginning in the 1860s, regular steamer service brought reliable transport to Bath, Portland, and Boston.

    boothbayhistorical.org/ life-in-the-boothbay-region
  • News  1871 - 8 Year Journey
    A lady in Bath, Maine, has just had returned to her by the Post-Office Department a letter which she mailed eight years and six months ago. It was covered with post-marks, but it is difficult to trace out its journeyings.
    St Joseph Herald
    Saint Joseph, Michigan
    January 14, 1871
  • News  1873 - BATH: DROWNED.
    Bath, Me., Sept. 15. While schooner London of Eastport, John Cassidy, master, lumber loaded, was coming through Merrymeeting Bay last night, she grounded on the shoals, and the captain and four others put off in the boat with a large kedge-anchor to haul the schooner into deep water, during which the boat was capsized, and the captain's brother, Kernard Cassidy of Calais, was drowned. His body was recovered and forwarded to Calais. He leaves a wife and seven children. Coming down the river today the schooner struck on Winslow's Rocks and is now full of water, lying at Sewall's wharf in this city.
    Daily Kennebec Journal
    Augusta, Maine
    September 16, 1873
  • 1884 - General Hyde renames Bath Iron Foundry as Bath Iron Works and incorporates company

    http://maineanencyclopedia.com/
  • 1889 - Bath
    NEW ENGLAND had many a romance in its younger years, which amid the mystic glamour of a primeval period, would easily have developed into legend or myth or even epic song. But in no department of her life, perhaps, has there been more of romance and poetry than in the strugglings and voyagings of her sturdy sons upon the sea, of the old seaport towns of the New England coast; and few attained higher prestige or were more broadly typical of the restless, enterprising spirit which accomplished so many victories on the seas of the world, than Bath, Maine, and though the ardor of that spirit has been cooled, or turned into other directions by numerous reverses, there still lingers in the old city many memorials of the sea-faring days of the past. The old town sprung indeed from one of the most prominent shipping towns of New England, being settled in 1718 by Thomas Elkins from Salem, Mass., who came here with several other stout-hearted pioneers and founded the settlement in that year.... Read MORE...

  • News  1894 - Fire - BATH SUFFERED A HEAVY LOSS
    About Half a Million Dollars' Damage by the Fire of Sunday.

    BATH, Me., Jan. 29 - The fire in Bath yesterday was the worst the city had ever known. The heart of the business section lies in ruins. The loss closely approaches $500,000. A defective chimney in the stable office of the Sagadahoc House started the fire, and before the blaze was discovered the wooden stable building was in flames.

    When the firemen arrived at the scene, they found the hydrants empty. Another break at New-Meadows in the main had cut off the water supply of the city. Portland, Lewistown, and Brunswick were appealed to for help, and sent special trains with fire engines. Four engines were stationed at the city landing and at the railroad wharf and took water from the river, but before water could be got from them the fire had gained great headway. Fortunately there was no wind.

    An attempt was made to blow up the corner block opposite the Sagadahoc House, and thus check the fire, but before arrangements... Read MORE...

  • 1894 - February 3 - 1st US steel sailing vessel, Dirigo, launched, Bath, Me

    historyorb.com
  • 1895 - Bath
    Bath, a city, port of entry, and seat of justice of Sagadahoc, Me, is situated on the right bank of the Kennebec River, 12 miles from the ocean, 30 miles S. of Augusta, 36 miles N.E. of Portland, and 147 miles N.E. of Boston. The city extends about 2% miles along the bank of the river, and nearly 1 mile back. It is not laid out with any great regard to regularity. The site slopes gradually towards the E., and, being uneven, the streets are generally accommodated to its inequalities. The town is well built, and lighted by electricity. It has a first-class hotel, 5 national banks, 2 savings-banks, and 11 churches, 1 of which—the Central Congregational-cost about $30,000. The Beacon Street Methodist Church is also a handsome edifice. The schools are graded, and are among the very best in the state. The night-school is attended both by boys and by girls. One daily and 3 weekly newspapers are published in the city. In the business of shipping, Bath is surpassed by no city in the United... Read MORE...

  • News  1895 - BEATEN AND ROBBED. Joseph Stevens of Five Islands Has Rough Experience with Highwayman.
    Bath – Nov. 27. – Joseph Stevens, 65 years old, a prominent citizen of Five Islands, was waylaid and robbed Tuesday in Georgetown. Stevens, who is a large and powerful man, fought desperately and was nearly murdered by his assailant. The highwayman used a club, by which he inflicted terrible wounds about the head of Stevens. Two bank books, a good watch, and a 38 were taken from Stevens. The robbery was committed at a lonely spot on the road between Riggsville and Five Islands and some distance from any dwelling.

    Terribly beaten and partially stunned, Stevens with a great effort made his way to the home of a Mr. Hogan, where he gave an alarm. He was covered with blood and presented a horrible sight.

    Stevens was in Bath yesterday, when he sold a lot of poultry, leaving for home by the Boothbay steamer. He landed at Riggsville to walk to his home, and had gone about 10 miles when attacked.

    Robber Arrested and Confesses.
    Bath – Nov. 27. - Frank Williams of Boothbay, is under... Read MORE...

  • 1916
    Bath, a city, port of entry, and seat of justice of Sagadahoc oo., Me., is situated on the right bank of the Kennebec River, 12 miles from the ocean, and on the Maine Central R., 30 miles S. of Augusta and 36 miles NE. of Portland. It is an important ship-building point of the United States and also a prominent commercial centre. The city owns considerable shipping and enjoys superior advantages for navigation, as the river here is seldom frozen in winter. The manufactures of the place are such as relate chiefly to ship-building, and include cordage- works, establishments for making ship-blocks, windlasses, and marine engines, etc. It has brass- and iron-foundries, machine-shops, and boiler-works. Bath has a soldiers' and sailors' orphans' home. It has steamboat communication with Portland, Augusta, and Boston. It was settled in 1756, and incorporated in 1780 (as a city, in 1850). Pop. in 1880. 7874 ; in 1890, 8723 ; in 1900, 10,477.
    Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

  • 2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Bath, Maine:
    Maine Maritime Museum: Start your visit by exploring the Maine Maritime Museum. It's a fantastic place to learn about the town's maritime heritage. You can explore historic ships, exhibits, and even take boat tours along the Kennebec River.

    Bath Iron Works: If you're interested in shipbuilding and naval history, take a tour of the Bath Iron Works. This shipyard has been building Navy destroyers for over 130 years, and the tours offer a fascinating glimpse into the shipbuilding process.

    Downtown Bath: Stroll through the charming downtown area, which is known for its well-preserved 19th-century architecture. You can visit local boutiques, art galleries, and enjoy a meal at one of the town's cozy restaurants.

    Reid State Park: For outdoor enthusiasts, Reid State Park is a must-visit. It offers miles of sandy beaches, hiking trails, and picturesque picnic areas. It's a great place for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the natural beauty of Maine's coastline.

    Doubling Point... Read MORE...

Discover Your Roots: Bath Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Bath, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Bath.

View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)



male ancestorJames SPRINGER (18 June 1698, Little Compton, Rhode Island, USA (Adamsville) - 28 December 1772, Bath, Maine, USA)
female ancestorJoanna LOW (6 February 1709, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA - 1761, Bath, Maine, USA)
female ancestorMartha SPRINGER (1 September 1741, Bath, Maine, USA - 12 November 1809, Livermore Falls, Maine, USA (East Livermore))
male ancestorJacob GOULD (1 November 1768, Bath, Maine, USA - 27 December 1862, Lisbon, Maine, USA (Lisbon Falls))
male ancestorJoab HARRIMAN (11 July 1802, Windsor, Maine, USA - 15 June 1874, Bath, Maine, USA)
female ancestorJulia A. FOSDICK (1802, Bath, Maine, USA - 27 April 1864, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorStephen M. MARINER (1802, - 17 August 1865, Bath, Maine, USA)
male ancestorIsaac ELDER (14 January 1803, Portland, Maine, USA (Deering) - 8 October 1845, Bath, Maine, USA)
male ancestorWilliam Henry MAINS (19 October 1822, Phippsburg, Maine, USA - 31 July 1899, Bath, Maine, USA)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Bath, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Bath.

View Them Now

male ancestorJonathan NORCROSS (7 February 1734 - 1786) and female ancestorMartha SPRINGER (1 September 1741 - 12 November 1809) married 15 April 1760
male ancestorGeorge Silas GLIDDEN (4 July 1859 - 28 January 1922) and female ancestorMiranda Jane CRESSEY (14 September 1858 - 7 June 1946) married 13 April 1879
male ancestorThomas B MCMANN (9 December 1845 - 18 November 1907) and female ancestorHattie GILBERT (8 July 1864 - 2 September 1915) married 6 March 1884
male ancestorDavid Albion FRENCH (27 February 1857 - 13 September 1934) and female ancestorEunice Hannah COBB (23 August 1872 - 16 June 1917) married 20 November 1892
photo of George Edmund BABINE George Edmund BABINE (15 April 1882 - 1956) and female ancestorRose E GALLANT (13 December 1894 - 30 January 1971) married 20 May 1913
photo of Clarence Paul STEWART Clarence Paul STEWART (26 February 1892 - 1958) and female ancestorBertha May MAINS (28 October 1896 - aft. 1940) married 26 October 1916
male ancestorHerbert Heald MCMANN (14 June 1895 - 28 February 1967) and photo of Abbie Alice MAINS Abbie Alice MAINS (26 February 1901 - 21 January 1992) married 23 September 1916
male ancestorWilliam P SANFORD (September 1863 - May 1927) and female ancestorCelia Ann EDWARDS (10 May 1853 - 17 February 1933) married 7 December 1916
male ancestorAlton Edward MAINS (11 May 1893 - 2 December 1967) and female ancestorMargaret Ann CLARK (12 November 1896 - 18 February 1960) married 13 January 1917
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Updated: 9/22/2023 9:52:55 AM

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