AUGUSTA — The Maine State Museum will welcome Donn Fendler to Maine for a special exhibit remembering his survival after nine days alone on Mount Katahdin at age 12 in 1939.

Fendler will appear at the Augusta museum July 12 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Museum officials say he will talk about his experiences and sign copies of his book “Lost on a Mountain in Maine.”

Fendler became separated from his family and made nationwide headlines as the subject of a massive rescue effort. Bloodhounds were brought in from New York to help in the search.

He says he survived using techniques learned as a Boy Scout

The boy made his way down the mountain and walked through about 50 miles of forest to the east branch of the Penobscot River. People in a camp across the river came to his assistance, according to his book and website. He had lost about 15 pounds during his ordeal.

His book was published in 1978. His goal is to make a video adaptation of his survival saga.

Fendler, 87, lives in Clarksville, Tennessee and has a summer camp in Newport, Maine.

The July 12 event is free of charge. An exhibit of Fendler’s personal items will be on display at the museum all month.

Mount Katahdin is the northern terminus of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail.