Construction is underway on a new, permanent 1,000-square-foot exhibit at Maine Maritime Museum dedicated to Bath Iron Works, past, present, and future. BIW: Building America’s Navy, produced in collaboration with Bath Iron Works, will provide an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the people, processes, and ships of BIW, one of only two shipyards in the country specializing in the design and building of complex surface combatants for the U.S. Navy. The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening as part of the museum’s annual Community Day on Saturday, May 19.

Housed in the former Education Building located at the south end of the museum’s campus, the new exhibit will provide visitors with an exclusive look at the shipyard's innovative approaches to design through a number of interactive elements including a touch-sensitive wall illustrating ship design and simulated CIC screens. A new theater space will feature a behind-the-scenes video of the shipbuilding process to give guests a glimpse of life inside the yard.

“Because shipbuilding in the 21st century relies on cutting-edge technologies, we will illustrate this story using cutting-edge technologies. But above all, we want to spark a sense of wonder and appreciation for modern shipbuilding. Our visitors are often unfamiliar with the incredible amount of innovation that goes on here in Bath daily. We intend to lift the curtain a bit,” said Curator of Exhibits Chris Timm.

To help illustrate the personal stories of shipyard workers, Timm is asking current/former employees for donations of shipyard-related personal items or memorabilia for possible use in the new exhibit. Objects for consideration can be brought to the front desk of the museum during regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week). Please note: donations must be a person’s own personal item, and donations will not be returned and cannot be guaranteed a place in the exhibit.

To help support the exhibit, the museum is offering the opportunity to honor a shipbuilder, sailor, or anyone with ties to BIW with a commemorative plaque. Plaques are available in two sizes: 5 x 3 inches and 10 x 8 inches for donations of $250 and $500, respectively. The custom plaques will be permanently on display on the exterior of the exhibit, so that they are accessible to the public outside of museum hours. For details, contact Rebecca Roche, Manager of Development Operations, at (207) 443-1316 x327 or roche@maritimeme.org.