Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Belfast (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Timberwind, Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, and Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce. Also, be sure to include First Church of Belfast in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Belfast (Maine).
Table of Contents
Timberwind
Boat. The schooner Timberwind is a historic former pilot boat, now berthed in Portland, Maine. Built in 1931, she served as a pilot boat in Portland Harbor until 1969, and was then converted into a schooner as part of the Maine "windjammer" tourist fleet. She is one of a very small number of early 20th-century purpose-built pilot boats that has survived major alteration, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. She moved to Rockport in 1969 and then to Belfast in 2015. She was purchased by the Portland Schooner Company in 2018.[1]
Address: Belfast Harbor Walk, Belfast
Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad
Railway, Transport, Museum
Address: 13 Oak Hill Rd, 04915-7325 Belfast
Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce
City hall, Visitor center, Area
Address: 14 Main St, 04915-6824 Belfast
First Church of Belfast
Building. The First Church of Belfast is a historic church at 8 Court Street in Belfast, Maine. The church congregation was founded in 1796, and its present building was built in 1818. The well-preserved Federal style church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, as one of a few churches in the state based closely on the designs of Asher Benjamin. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ; its current pastors are Dr. Kate Winters and Rev. Joel Kruger.[2]
Perry's Nut House
Candy store in Belfast, Maine. Perry's Nut House is a tourist stop and store on Route One in Belfast, Maine.
Opened in 1927, Perry's Nut House is a classic example of an American roadside attraction. Located on the coastal road to Bar Harbor, Perry's Nut House features many large painted animal sculptures outside the building. And, until 1997, inside the building you could see a display of stuffed animals, exotic nuts and seeds from around the world. Perry's also makes and sells traditional homemade fudge and candies along with Maine-themed souvenirs, retro and wooden toys and gag gifts.
In 1997, the third owners (Diane & John Bailey) sold most of the original taxidermy animals and display items in an auction that was held in the store. As of 2009, however, the current owners of Perry's Nut House are working hard to restore the feeling of the old Perry's. Several original items have been acquired and have reappeared in the store, including a gorilla (Ape-Raham, restored Jan. - May 2012), a 21-foot python skin, a very large stuffed albatross, a 13-foot alligator, a cougar and a baboon.
In the early 1950s, Perry's Nut House used a catchy radio jingle: "Pack up the kids. Jump in the car. Drive to Perry's Nut House, and there you are. Right on the coast, route number 1. Belfast, Maine, Oh golly what fun."[3]
Address: 45 Searsport Ave, 04915-7212 Belfast
Front Street Shipyard
Boat builders in Belfast, Maine. Front Street Shipyard is a custom boat builder, boat yard, marina, and service yard in Belfast, Maine, USA. The yard is located along the waterfront in Penobscot Bay. The business was established in 2011. One year later, the ownership group also purchased the neighboring business, Belfast Boat Yard. In 2014, Front Street Shipyard began leasing a building in Bucksport, Maine, where production boats are built.
Front Street Shipyard is situated on a six-acre property with 1,500 feet of waterfront. The yard has 72,555 square feet of space for yacht storage and 10,320 square feet of shop space for boat building and yacht refits. The buildings on site are long enough and tall enough to accommodate yachts up to 155 feet long. There are seven acres of off-site storage space, as well as a production boat building facility in the neighboring town of Bucksport. The yard has a yacht lifting capacity of 485 tons, making it capable of lifting superyachts.
Front Street Shipyard specializes in boat building and yacht refits. Notable superyacht refits at Front Street Shipyard include:
- ASHA, a 90-foot Palmer Johnson motoryacht, in 2015.
- ASOLARE, a 154-foot cold-molded wooden ketch, in 2014.
- MARAE, a 108-foot pilothouse sloop, in 2014.
- ATLANTIDE, a 122-foot historic steel motoryacht, in 2012-13.
- STONEFACE, a 106-foot aluminum Burger motoryacht, in 2011-12.
Front Street Shipyard works with yacht designers to develop concept yacht designs for new construction. The designs available for construction at Front Street Shipyard include:
- 84-foot and 102-foot modern sloops designed by Bill Tripp.
- 118-foot and 130-foot sloops designed by Sparkman & Stephens.
Belfast Commercial Historic District
The Belfast Commercial Historic District encompasses two blocks of the central business district of Belfast, Maine. This area includes the best-preserved and most architecturally interesting commercial buildings of the city's mid-to-late 19th century development, when it was the leading port on Penobscot Bay. It extends along Main Street from the major intersection and Church Street north to Washington Street. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and is entirely contained within the larger Belfast Historic District.[5]
Belfast National Bank
The Belfast National Bank is a historic commercial building at Main and Beaver Streets in downtown Belfast, Maine. Built in 1879 and enlarged twelve years later, it is one of the city's most elaborately decorated buildings. It was designed by George M. Harding, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[6]
Hayford Block
The Hayford Block is a historic commercial building at 47 Church Street in downtown Belfast, Maine. Built in 1866 and enlarged in 1869, it was the first significant construction after a major fire devastated central Belfast in 1865. It is also home to Hayford Hall, an opera house that was for many years the city's major performance venue.[7]
Masonic Temple
The former Masonic Temple is a historic commercial and social building at Main and High Streets in downtown Belfast, Maine. Built in 1877, it is one of the city's most elaborately decorated buildings, featuring Masonic symbols. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. While there are active Masonic organizations in Belfast, they now meet in a modern facility on Wight Street.[8]
Belfast Free Library
The Belfast Free Library is a public library in Belfast, Maine. The library was established in 1887 by act of the Maine Legislature following donations from Paul Hazeltine and Nathanial Wilson.[9]
Address: 106 High St, 04915 Belfast