POSTCARDS FROM THE PAST

BELFAST HAS A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY JUST WAITING TO BE EXPLORED

LAUNCH OF SCHOONER THEOLINE, 1900

CIVIL WAR VETS AT MEMORIAL HALL, CA. 1900

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Step back in time

Visit these landmarks to explore more local history

Belfast Historical Society and Museum is open June to October, and offers free self-guided tours. (10 Market St. 207-338-9229. belfastmuseum.org) Museum in the Streets features 30 photo panels around downtown that describe the city’s history. Get maps at the Historical Society or Chamber offi ce (14 Main St.) Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport houses Maine’s largest photo archive. (2 Church St. Searsport. 207-548-2529. penobscotmarinemuseum.org) Brooks Preservation Society Inc., operates the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, which operated for more than 130 years. Now the group offers excursions on the railroad. (37 Gordon Hill Road in Thorndike. 207-315-9410. brookspreservation.org) Brooks Historical Society houses small exhibits about the town, which thrived through the 19th century, with mills and a canning factory. (11 Moosehead Tr., Brooks. brookshistoricalsociety.org) The Davistown Museum, located across the street from Liberty Tools, celebrates the history of tools. (58 Main St., Liberty. davistownmuseum.org) Liberty Historical Society is based in an octagonal post offi ce on the main street. (81 Main St., LIberty. 207-589-4730)

Unity Historical Society preserves the history of Unity, which was settled by Quakers in 1804, once teemed with mills, creameries, and tanneries, and is now home to Unity College and Common Ground Fair. (8 Depot St. 207-948-5610. unityhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com)

BELFAST’S HISTORIC BUSINESSES Colburn Shoe Store - 1832 America’s Oldest Shoe Store 79 Main St. colburnshoe.com Mathews Brothers - 1854 America’s Oldest Window Manufacturer 22 Perkins Rd. 207 338-3360 mathewsbrothers.com Colonial Theatre - 1912 163 High St. 207-338-1930 colonialtheater.com