On Sunday, April 23, the historic schooner Mary E, believed to be the oldest Maine-built wooden fishing schooner still afloat, will be arriving at her new home: Maine Maritime Museum. The public is invited to the museum for a free “Welcome Home” party from 10 a.m. to noon.

Built in Bath in 1906, and restored in Bath in 1965 on the grounds of what is now Maine Maritime Museum, Mary E is a two-masted clipper schooner, and the oldest Bath-built wooden schooner still sailing. In late April she will make the journey from her current port in New York to her new home at the museum, a trip that’s anticipated to take roughly a week.

At the Welcome Home party, visitors can cheer on Mary E as she makes her way up the Kennebec, and will also have the opportunity to go on board at the dock. Mary E’s arrival will be weather and tide-dependent, but approximate arrival time is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Admission will be free.

During summer 2017, restoration work started by her former owner will be completed on the museum’s campus, giving the public the opportunity to witness historic shipbuilding techniques first hand. The project will be overseen by shipwright Andros Kypragoras, who completed the restoration of the schooner Bowdoin in 2016. Mary E will be launched at the museum in spring 2018, and will offer public tours and cruises.

More information on Mary E, including a complete history, can be found here: http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/mary-e/