Bowdoin, Museum ship and training vessel in Castine, United States
The Bowdoin is a wooden sailing vessel in Castine designed specifically for Arctic waters. At approximately 88 feet in length, the hull is built with reinforced construction to withstand ice and the demanding conditions of northern seas.
The vessel was built in 1921 at a shipyard in East Boothbay and subsequently undertook multiple scientific expeditions to the Arctic. Following these voyages, it served in a military capacity during World War II.
The schooner embodies Maine's maritime education legacy as a training vessel at Maine Maritime Academy, where students learn navigation and seamanship. It represents how hands-on learning on the water shaped generations of sailors and continues to do so today.
The vessel can be visited through guided tours that explain traditional sailing methods and specialized equipment. It is worth checking in advance whether the ship is docked or away on an expedition.
The vessel holds dual National Historic Landmark designations and remains the sole American schooner built specifically for Arctic exploration that still actively sails. Few American ships share this distinction.
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