On Nov. 1, a group gathered outside the Penobscot Marine Museum to pay tribute to the town's seafaring history as a nine-foot-tall bronze sea captain statue was unveiled.

The statue is the initiative of Dr. Karen Kelley, a Searsport citizen who was determined to fulfill the dreams of her friend and Searsport enthusiast, Natalie Knox, according to the Penobscot Marine Museum.

Natalie Knox died in 2023. Behind he, she left an inspiring legacy of community engagement and service. 

According to the PMM:

"Kelley raised funds for the statue from local residents and businesses and turned to the Penobscot Marine Museum for a fitting location to site the tribute. The Town of Searsport will own and maintain the statue. The sea captain was cast in bronze in Hong Kong and traveled aboard ship to the eastern seaboard, following a route that would have been familiar to many seafaring Searsport families.  

"The Searsport Sea Captain will stand at full height on a granite plinth in front of PMM’s Fowler-True-Ross House. This site was chosen both for its prominence on Route 1 and for its place in front of a home that preserves and shares the stories of Searsport families’ life and work at sea.

"The house’s first namesake, Miles Fowler, purchased the property in 1815, and it remained in the family for 152 years until it was sold to PMM in 1937. Its walls housed four generations of Fowler-True-Ross families, including many sea captains, their wives, and children. Today, a guided tour and exhibits in the home inspire visitors to learn more about our community’s seafaring history and legacy."