“One of only two places on the Atlantic seaboard where the mountains meet the sea, Camden is often called the prettiest location in Maine. Situated on the western shore of Penobscot Bay, the town has a rich shipbuilding history that dates back to the late 18th century. Here, prolific builder Joseph Stetson opened Stetson Shipyard at the head of Camden Harbor in 1817 and built 70 vessels from his own models, ranging from schooners and brigs to passenger packets and clipper ships. In 1875, the Holly M. Bean shipyard opened on the east side of the harbor, where Bean and his sons launched 64 large wooden sailing vessels before closing shop in 1920, including the six-masted schooner George W. Welles in 1920.
From shipbuilding to coast-wide and cross-continental trade, Camden’s prosperity came from the sea, and the wooden vessels built here gained widespread recognition within sailing circles….”