SEARSPORT – The Penobscot Marine Museum’s annual History Conference will be held Oct. 24-25. This year’s theme will be “The Working Waterfront.” Registration deadline is Oct. 22.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday there will be a round-table discussion at Carver Memorial Art Gallery of the life and times of the Jacob Pike, the museum’s historic sardine carrier at Friday evening will also include a chowder supper and old-time fiddling featuring museum trustee Ralph Stanley.

Saturday’s agenda, which includes a catered lunch, will begin with a talk by archaeologist Dr. Stephen Cox on Native Americans’ historic use of Maine’s waterfront. Cox’s presentation will be followed by several speakers on different aspects of the working waterfront over time including: Jon Johansen, publisher of Maine Coastal News, presenting information and images on Maine boat builders and shops. Jerry Kaplan, Penobscot Marine Museum volunteer, will present images of printmaker Carroll Thayer Berry.

Saturday’s program starts at the Congregational church vestry at 6 Church St., and finishes at the Main Street Gallery. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. Niles Parker’s opening remarks at 9 a.m. will be followed by “The Waterfront Before Europeans – Native American Prehistoric Settlement of the Central Maine Coast” by Dr. Steven Cox, archaeologist.

After a short break, Ben Fuller will present “Maine’s Waterfronts from the Atlantic Fisherman” at 11 a.m.

After lunch, Jerry Kaplan will discuss “Berry on the Waterfront: Photographs of Carroll Thayer Berry” at 1 p.m., followed by Jon Johansen on “Commercial Boatbuilding in Maine,” and David Gelinas on “Working the Bay: Pilots on Penobscot Bay Today” and concluding with the Main Street Gallery 2008 Summer Exhibit “Finest Kind – Folk Art of the Penobscot.”

Prices for the conference include food for all events. Members: Friday $15, Saturday $35. Nonmembers: Friday, $20, Saturday, $50. Students, Friday, $10, Saturday, $20. To register, contact development director Brian Folster at 548-2529.