05/20/2026
*5 year anniversary reflections, part 2!* As I think about the past 5 years of Embark, I’ve been reflecting about how it started. To recap: Coming out of the pandemic school year (2021), with my love of history, and recognizing the need to help welcome visitors back to Maine, I brainstormed with friends, and came up with the idea for a walking tour business.
Shortly after, I was taking a walk (apropos) in my neighborhood and ran into Tom Edwards and Lou Ensel making maple syrup in Tom’s garage. Knowing them as two of THE leading Bath citizens and boosters, I tried the idea out on them. They were encouraging and gave me some ideas of who else to talk to next. I slowly but surely connected with other smart, experienced people and organizations in the community, tested some of the “Bath HIstory 101” ideas on my students, and launched the tours in May that year.
I want to recognize Bath Historical Society, Sagadahoc Preservation, the Patten Free Library, Maine Maritime Museum, Main Street Bath, and Maine’s First Ship as just some of the organizations (and their people) that helped me then and now and have been and *are* doing incredible work to make Bath’s history visible. As a board member (for some), volunteer, business partner, donor and most importantly, patron - thank you! For my history loving locals, please keep them in mind when considering ways to support our community. For those elsewhere, I encourage you to find like-minded orgs in your own community. ❤️
Finally, on this topic, I’ve done tours for other organizations in tourism hot spots like Portland and Kennebunkport, and I can say sincerely: Bath is unmatched. It’s the ultimate place to immerse yourself in history. Not to live in the past, but to stay connected to it. This only happens because of people (often volunteers) willing it so. Probably like it does for you, history makes me hopeful. ✨✨✨
