Moosehead Marine Museum receives $500,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending

GREENVILLE – The Moosehead Marine Museum recently received notification that a $500,000 request for Congressionally Directed Spending was approved. This request was submitted by  U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Angus King, I-Maine as one of their funding priorities in the FY2024 federal budget for Historic Rehabilitation Projects in the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

In her letter notifying the museum of the funding approval, Collins wrote, “As vice chair of the  Senate Appropriations Committee, I championed funding in this bill to support federal programs that invest in communities in Maine and throughout the country. This funding will help to ensure that  Maine’s rich history can be enjoyed for generations to come.” 

The funds will go toward MMM’s “Keep Kate Cruising”, a campaign to restore the 109-year-old historic  steamship, Katahdin. According to museum Executive Director Liz McKeil, the Katahdin, affectionately known as the Kate, annually draws 8,500 visitors to the region to cruise Moosehead Lake and to visit the shoreside museum which houses more than 2,000 artifacts, photographs and items of memorabilia from the lake’s past when steamboats like the Katahdin plied the waters. With this funding, the campaign has raised 78 percent of the final goal of $2 million. 

“We are grateful for the support of Senators Collins and King and for their recognition of the importance  of this beloved icon of our region,” said McKeil. Because of early fundraising success and generous gifts  from individuals, businesses, and foundations, the restoration project is already underway. MMM has hired the Shipyard in Boothbay Harbor for upper deck replacement. Restoration of the upper aft “fantail”  deck was completed in early June 2023. 

Work on the upper port deck started in October and will be  completed before the 2024 cruising season. The next phase will involve replacement of the “green rail”  and side decking. 

The Moosehead Marine Museum’s mission is to preserve and operate the Katahdin as a “living museum” for the benefit of our community, region, and future generations. For more information, please visit www.katahdincruises.com.