Maine camps are as much a tradition as they are a place. They are the embodiment of leisure and sport. But most importantly, Maine camps are an immense cultural resource deeply intertwined with the state’s natural resources. This exhibition will investigate the rise of Maine’s sporting and leisure camp tradition and how the state’s inland waterways have contributed to its popularity.
Visitors will discover the various forms of transportation used to get individuals and families to rural camp locations – including lake-bound steamers; the types of activities available to visitors at camps, such as fishing and canoeing; and the architecture and amenities created by camps and their proprietors to produce a uniquely Maine experience.
Creating Upta Camp
A key aspect of Maine Maritime Museum’s new mission is to reframe our consideration of maritime to include an emphasis on waterways and their local, regional, and global impact. By definition, a waterway is simply any “navigable body of water.” While that includes our 3,000 miles of tidal coastline, it also encompasses the staggering number of Maine’s inland water sources. Maine alone has nearly 32,000 miles of river and over 60 0 lakes and ponds, meaning most areas in the state have a direct, often vital, connection to some form of water.