SEARSPORT, Maine — In a large and fairly dark room, Maine history comes to life through photographs.

A lot of photographs.

The Penobscot Marine Museum was created in 1936 to preserve the history of Searsport’s remarkable collection of sea captains in the 1800s. Most of them were captains of large sailing ships that travelled the world. Nearly 90 years later, besides the artifacts and records from those old voyages, the museum has also amassed what is believed to be the largest photo archive in the state.

It’s a collection of images dating from the earliest years of photography up to the modern era.

“What inspires me to do this so much,” photo archivist Kevin Johnson said, “is that by making these photos available online and for people to see, is not just for their enjoyment. It's p

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