Belfast Historical Society and Museum

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Belfast, ME
Belfast Historical Society and Museum

Enjoy exciting exhibits that tell the story of Belfast. Learn about Belfast's maritime heritage. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Admission.

The Belfast Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to the collection, conservation, preservation and interpretation of documents, photographs and other artifacts relevant to Belfast history. The Society and Museum, by means of museum exhibits, lectures and other presentations, promotes the intellectual and cultural life of Belfast, and informs and educates the Belfast community and visitors about its distinguished heritage.

05/30/2026

Here's a look back to 1989 Summer Activities options.

05/28/2026

A real estate ad dated May 29, 1952 for a new house on Northport Avenue and a photo of how the house looks today.

05/23/2026

James A. Dunton, Civil War veteran is buried in Grove Cemetery. He was the last Civil War Veteran in Waldo County.

James A. Dunton (1846 – 1940) was born in Lincolnville, February 12, 1846 and was a private in the 26th Maine Regiment. He enlisted at age 15 from Lincolnville and was with Company G all through the Red River campaign, at the fight of Irish Bend, and the siege and battle of Port Hudson. He was mustered out in 1863 but re-enlisted three months later. He went into the Second Maine Cavalry and was taken prisoner in the fall of 1864 and remained a prisoner until April 1865.
He was the last surviving Civil War veteran in Waldo County, Dunton died at age 93, New Year’s Day 1940 at the Soldiers Home in Togus. He is buried in Grove Cemetery.
His date of death was finally cut in June 2013! His burial service in 1940 was held in the Grove Cemetery Chapel. I've included the page from the Chapel Register.

05/21/2026

May 31, 1920: The Memorial Exercises of the The Thomas H. Marshall Post #42 Dept. of Maine Grand Army of the Republic. This observance was held in the Opera House hall. This Memorial Day, as you walk through Grove Cemetery and the other outlying Belfast cemeteries, you may see the iron markers GAR Post 42, they are placed to mark the grave of a Civil War veteran.

05/20/2026

National Maritime Heritage Day is today, Wednesday May 20. May 20 coincides with the launching of the last Belfast built sailing ship, the Blanche C. Pendleton. Here are two photos taken at the moments of the launch.

05/16/2026

May 17, 1917, The Public Safety Committee announced that several landowners in Belfast were offering their properties for folks to plant gardens.

05/14/2026

May 1958 and the Grand Opening for a new supermarket was held on upper Main Street. A 7200 sq. foot red and white supermarket owned by William T. Cottle of Waterville. According to Mr. Cottle, 'Our merchandise is of the highest quality and we handle only the best grades of meat." The building is now home to the Tarratine Tribe #13, Improved Order of Redmen.

05/12/2026

I've replaced my initial post with this post I put up several years ago. Sunday, April 28, 1974 Fire
Early in the morning. Smoke was seen rising from Vattes’ store.
28 of the 30 Belfast volunteer firemen answered the call. Large turnout of firemen, volunteer citizens, and lack of wind allowed fire to be stopped.
The Home Furnishing Company was reported to house the largest and finest collection of new and used fi****ms in New England.
Darres building suffered smoke and water damage, reopened within the week. Lost $1000 worth of frozen food, which had thawed. Distributed some food to needy families.
Only injuries were 1 cut finger and 2 puncture wounds from stepping on nails.
From “History of Belfast in the 20th Century”
James L. Richards was starting his 4th day as Fire Chief when fire erupted in the former Coliseum building on lower Main Street, housing the Home Furnishing Company and McLellan’s store. The Coliseum had already burned twice before in 1917 and 1929, and was rebuilt each time. The blaze apparently started in George Vattes’ adjacent narrow wooden building, spreading to the Coliseum and the Waldo Auto Parts Store. All three were destroyed. Darres’ Restaurant, the oldest commercial building in Belfast, was threatened for a time, but saved. Dick McGray, who owned a service station across the street, got a chain saw from his store, cut down several trees to allow the hoses to move more freely, cut a hole in the rear of the Waldo Auto Parts store for the firemen to enter, and then climbed a ladder and curt holes in the roof to allow firemen to pour water into the building.” Several credited McGray with halting the spread and saving downtown. Though his chainsaw was wrecked, McGray found two quarters and a nickel on the roof. Damage was estimated at $500,000.

Address

10 Market Street
Belfast, ME
04915

Telephone

(207) 338-9229

Website

http://www.belfastmuseum.org/

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