Iconic fictional Maine character arrives in Searsport

SEARSPORT, Maine (WABI) - The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport added a new attraction to its front lawn earlier today.

A 40-foot sign of Big Jim, the iconic smiling fisherman created in 1959 as a tribute to Maine’s historic sardine industry, now sits in front of the museum.

A crane was used to erect the sign, which is there to market a sardine exhibit inside the museum.

According to the team who put the sign together, the project was a long-time coming.

“It was just an idea, but I wanted to find something to put on our front lawn that would advertise our exhibit about the sardine industry, sardine land. And so I thought, why can’t we just borrow the original sardine land sign. So, I called up this person, Jennifer, and believe it or not she went along with it,” said Kevin Johnson, Head of Photo Archives at the Penobscot Marine Museum.

And there will be an outdoor party on the lawn of the museum Saturday at 2 o’clock to celebrate the new sign.

There will be live music and refreshments.