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Bath
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The small town of
BATH
has an exceptionally long history of
shipbuilding
: the first vessel to be constructed and launched here was the
Virginia
in 1607, by Sir George Popham's short-lived colony.
Bath Iron Works
, founded in 1833, attracted job-seeking Irishmen in such numbers as to provoke a mob of anti-immigrant "Know-Nothings" to burn down the local Catholic church in July 1854. The works continue to produce ships - during World War II, more destroyers were built here than in all Japan - and only admit visitors for special occasions such as ceremonial launchings. However, at the
Maine Maritime Museum
, 243 Washington St, next to the Iron Works two miles south of the town center (daily 9.30am-5pm; $9), you can tour a functioning shipyard where apprentices learn to build wooden schooners using traditional techniques.
As you head up the coast, accommodation starts to be better value. The Inn at Bath (tel 207/443-4294 or 1-800/423-0964, ; $75-100/$100-130), 969 Washington St, is a wonderful B&B with beautiful gardens and all the amenities. For a more rural experience, try the Fairhaven Inn on North Bath Road (tel 207/443-4391 or 1-888/443-4391; $75-100), which has shared and private bathrooms, serves a fine full breakfast, and offers hiking and cross-country skiing in season.
Places to eat
include
Kristina's
, 160 Centre St (tel 207/442-8577), specializing in inventive American dishes and serving up great breads and desserts; and
Beale Street Barbecue & Grill
(tel 207/442-9514) on 215 Water St, offering slow-smoked chicken, pulled pork and ribs, to stay or to go. Be warned, however, that everything in Bath closes very early in the evenings. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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United States,
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