By Carol McCracken

Portland Harbor Museum and Maine Historical Society are hosting a two-part lecture series on the U.S. Navy in Casco Bay during World War II.  They are free and open to the public.

“On January 24, 1941, the U.S. Navy designated Casco Bay a fleet anchorage and authorized the establishment of a U.S. Naval frontier Base in Portland.  The Frontier Base soon grew to be a U.S. Naval Station operated by thousands of sailors and serving hundreds of vessels; the Army and Navy secretly designated Portland as the most important naval base in the United States….” says the promotional material from the two non-profits.

The two lectures are:

Wednesday, July 15, 7 pm   Naval Shore Activities in Casco Bay. Lecturer is Joel Eastman, Professor of History Emeritus, University of Southern Maine 

Wednesday, August 19, 7 pm.  Naval Sea Activities in Casco Bay.  George Stewart, Retired Naval Officer

Both lectures are at  the Lecture Hall at Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress Street, Portland.