Midcoast

When you reach the mid-coast section of Maine you’ll notice that the geography of the coastline makes a dramatic change. While the southern section offers inviting sandy beaches and spectacular ocean view, it sweeps up in a somewhat smooth arc until you reach the area around Bath. Some say this is where “Downeast” begins. Traveling from this point toward the Canadian border you’ll find the term “rocky coast of Maine” – take on a more powerful meaning.

It’s like a family of good-natured giants laid their hand down on the land and stretched out their crooked fingers deep into the sea. The result was an infinite number of peninsulas with a myriad of inlets, coves, harbors and islands that became both beautiful and perilous.

It took a determined and visionary group of people to tame the mischief of these mythical giants. Centuries ago European explores and pioneers befriended and struggled with Native Americans as they toiled to establish new communities and homes for their families.

Most often the lives of these early settles centered on harvesting timber to build ships which they sailed in nearby waters to build a prosperous fishing industry.

Their hard work produced cities, towns and villages and dynamic industries that have left their mark on the generations that followed.

Today, we have inherited a rich legacy which we are proud to share with visitors from around the world.

In your travels we hope you’ll take time to savor the beauty of the land and history of the people. Some of the sights you’ll see:

Bath and Phippsburg – steeped in a rich ship building history. Belfast and Searsport – offering spectacular views. Boothbay Harbor – for thrilling boating excursions.

Brunswick and Harspwell – with a historic college town and art centers. Camden and Rockport – famous for windjammer cruises. Damariscatta and New Castle – “twin cities” with connecting histories.

Georgetown and Woolwich – where Native American art flourishes. Rockland – home of the world renowned lobster festival. Stockton Springs – when you need a quiet get-away.

Wiscasset – claimed to be the “Prettiest Village in Maine.”

You’ll find historic places to stay, restaurants to satisfy every taste and a lively community of antique collectors, artists, crafters and entertainers. The scenery is breathtaking, both on land and sea. Lighthouses provide safety for ocean travelers and photo opportunities for camera bugs. Museums and celebrated landmarks provide a perspective on the achievements of preceding generations.

You can cruise to nearby islands, go deep sea fishing and whale watching from any number of harbors. Land sports like golf, tennis, hiking, biking and horseback riding may be your preference. Or you can enjoy a variety of water sports like swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing on both lakes and the ocean.

The mid-coast of Maine offers you some of the most endearing places to visit. We trust you will find wonderful ways to enjoy yourself here and hope you return often.

MAINE AQUARIUM

From the moment you enter the Maine State Aquarium at Boothbay Harbor you can tell you are in for an aquatic treat.  When you go into the main gallery you’ll think you’ve been transported to a rocky section of the Maine coast.

Many lobsters that defy the usual size and color of traditional lobsters, some up to 23 pounts.  Who’d expect to see a blue, calico or albino lobster? You will at the aquarium.

Your kids will be in heaven playing at the many interactive displays, where they get to hold and touch all sorts of watery creatures.

In the 20 foot long elevated touch tank – the largest in Maine – you and your kids will be amazed by the multitude of invertebrates crawling among the rocky bottom. You can feel the spiny skin of a sea star or sea urchin and, if you’re in a playful mood, get squirted by a sea cucumber or scallop. Then watch as the moon snail pulls in its enormous “gooey” foot and be fascinated by the sea star retracting its stomach. Yuck!…but what fun!!!

At the “Downeast” tank you can watch red sea anemones and purple sunstars cavort in their natural habitat, as live northern shrimp and bottom-dwelling fish make an appearance.

Don’t fall into the 850 gallon tank. It’s filled with sharks and skates. Not to worry. The aquarium staff enjoys guiding visitors on the safe and respectful way to touch these creatures of the deep.

The Maine State Aquarium is located at 194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor and operated by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. (207-633-9674)

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ROCKLAND

Natural and man-made wonders make Rockland popular with visitors.  You will find dozens of picturesque islands, celebrated lighthouses and charming harbors. Add to this its many historic inns, boutiques, shops, galleries and fine restaurants.

Major industries that established Rockport as a commercial center included shipbuilding, lime processing, granite quarrying and fishing and lobstering. It is also a service center city with an emphasis on tourism and the arts.

One of the area’s most respected art centers is the Farnsworth Art Museum located downtown.  The museum features an extensive collection of American art and three generations of paintings of the Wyeth family – Andrew, N.C. and Jamie.

An engineering marvel that protects Rockland Harbor and helped secure its fishing industry is the 4,300-foot granite breakwater that extends into Penobscot Bay. It provides you with a great place to fish and watch working and pleasure sea crafts.

The Maine Lighthouse Museum has the largest collection of lighthouse lenses and a remarkable collection of lighthouse artifacts and Coast Guard memorabilia.

Each year in early August Rockland hosts a five-day mammoth lobster festival where people enjoy 25,000 pounds of lobsters in a wonderful party atmosphere.  Among the festival highlights are a parade, entertainment by world-class performers and the arrival of “King Neptune” who crowns his Maine Sea Goddess.

For boating enthusiasts and lovers of majestic views on the water come take part in Schooner Days in early July.  Throughout the summer you can take windjammer and boating cruises to view neighboring islands and go deep sea fishing or whale watching.

A must on anyone’s list is the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The museum is a short ride to the south and houses both aircraft and ground vehicles.

Nearby Thomaston, with its handsome downtown section, was once best know as the site of the state prison. Torn down in 2002, its well-known prison shop, where inmates sold items they created, continues as a fixture on Main Street.

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CAMDEN ~ ROCKPORT

So with my eyes I traced the line

Of the horizon, thin and fine…

These lines from Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem Renascence, written in l912, could have been inspired by the expansive view she saw of the Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay beyond. Millay lived in Camden during her childhood years before she gained literary prominence and won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1922.

She is honored with a statue in downtown Camden and a memorial at the peak of Mount Battie in the 6,500 acre Camden Hills State Park.

While many writers, artists and crafters have been drawn to Camden’s tree shaded streets, elegant homes, white painted churches and colorful flower gardens, don’t be mislead by its genteel appearance. You’ll find a lively selection of first-rate accommodations, restaurants and shops.

Sports enthusiasts embrace its hills, lakes and harbor for biking, hiking, sailing, kayaking and canoeing. More than a summer vacation place, Camden has become a year round attraction. In winter ponds and lakes freeze over to the delight of ice skaters. With 71 mountain peaks in Camden the hills are alive with cross country and downhill skiers.

During February the Camden Snow Bowl hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championship. What started as diversion from the stark winter doldrums has emerged as a major New England snow competition. To add to the festive spirit of the games look for the colorful costumes most teams wear.

In summer Camden is a hiker’s and camper’s paradise. Trails take you to the top of 800 foot high Mount Battie and Mt. Megunticook, the highest point in Camden at 1,375 feet. When the weather is clear you can see Monhegan Island and Cadillac Mountain on Mount Desert Island.

Summer also brings out one of Camden’s most famous attractions – Windjammers.

In 1935 artist Frank Swift converted fishing schooners into crafts to take visitors on scenic cruises. Each year the romance and popularity of these sleek vessels has grown. Today Camden has the largest windjammer fleet in the world.

Along with schooner races you can enjoy art shows, lobster festivals and musical and theatrical productions. The Summer Harp Colony of America brings world famous musicians to perform. The Opera House, built in 1894 and once the tallest building in Knox County, provides ideal facilities for local and visiting stage productions.

Camden’s country scenery provided the setting for the 1957 movie production of Peyton Place.

Neighboring Rockport was part of Camden until 1891. You’ll discover Rockport has an unruffled atmosphere, yet filled with excellent summer and year-round attractions, such as golf, sailing, camping and sightseeing. If you love searching for antiques you’ll tarry a while in Rockport.

Take a moment to walk the breakwater that overlooks an expansive view of Penobscot Bay. The much-loved Andre the seal, made famous in books and film, cavorted in the harbor and became the town’s mascot. 

During the 19th century the production of lime for the construction industry became a major industry in Rockport. Visit the Rockport Marine Park to see replicas of kilns and a locomotive used to transport lime.

You can get a sense of Rockport’s active artists’ community with a visit to the Maine Coast Artists Gallery. It features contemporary art housed in a remodeled 19th century livery stable. The town’s famous Bay Chamber Concerts perform in both Rockport and Camden. The Maine Photographic Workshops have achieved international acclaim for its classes in photography, film and graphics.

Don’t leave Rockport without a visit to the Vesper Hill Children’s Chapel. A popular sight of weddings, its open-air design set in beautiful landscaped gardens gives a spectacular view of Penobscot Bay and Rockport Harbor.

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STOCKTON SPRINGS

The quiet and tranquil setting of Stockton Springs can be an inspired alternative to the hurried pace of an event filled vacation. Its small town rural atmosphere north of Belfast can be just the place to “get away from it all” and revitalize your spirits.

If you like antique shops, book stores and flea markets you may not want to leave. You’ll have an excellent selection of down-to-earth accommodations and great restaurants. Most attractions, like Sandy Point Beach, Fort Point Lighthouse and museums are within twenty minutes of each other.

The strategic location of the town’s Cape Jellison Peninsula jutting into the Penobscot River makes it an important landmark. Fort Point Lighthouse was constructed of granite in 1836 on the east side of the peninsula. Its primary mission was to keep passenger and merchant ships traveling from Boston to Bangor away from dangerous sections of the coastline.  

You’ll find the lighthouse has an unusual design. With a square tower on the exterior and a round brick lining with circular iron staircase inside, it is the only Maine lighthouse built in this pattern. The present 31-foot square brick lighthouse was built in 1857.

The 5.5 mile-loop around the Cape Jellison peninsula gives you an ideal course for walking, running and biking. The peninsula’s public beach at Fort Point State Park covers 100 acres and is a great place for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking. If you like water sports you can use the boat landing to launch your windsurfing gear, sail boats, kayaks and canoes. Plan ahead. There are no facilities here and parking is limited.

One of Maine’s leading produce products is blueberries. It’s believed their added flavor comes from their compact size. In Stockton Springs the blueberry harvest occurs in August. You can have a delightful time picking your own blueberries for your desserts and pies at Staples Homestead, a six generation farm established in 1838. Look for the “PYO” sign.

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WISCASSET

The Abenaki Indian sage who gave Wiscasset its name must have had a sense of humor. Or perhaps there was a heavy morning mist covering the tidal Sheepscot River that flows by when he dreamed up the name. For the literal translation of Wiscasset means “coming out from the harbor but you don’t see where.”

When European pioneers first settled the area in 1663 they discovered that the river had one of the deepest and protected harbors north of Boston. They could see the potential for lumbering, fishing, shipbuilding and establishing a prosperous community connected with sea life. It didn’t happen right away.

King Philip’s Wars in 1675, Indian raids and other hardships forced settlers to abandon the area until 1730 when it was re-settled.

Today, when you enter this charming town, you see the result of the vision and hard work that built it into a major seaport. Often considered the Gateway to Mid-coast Maine, see if you don’t agree it has reason enough to call itself “Maine’s Prettiest Village.”

Prosperous sea merchants during its shipbuilding heyday lined the curving streets with elegant homes, many built in the classic Federal style. Two excellent examples of this period have been turned into museums and will give you an idea of fashion and sophistication of that time. One is Castle Tucker. Built in 1807 on a hilltop with a glorious view of the Sheepscot River, it gives you a vivid picture of Wiscasset history.

The other is the Nickels-Sortwell House. Also built in 1807, you can’t miss its elegant façade as you pass along Main Street. Inside, sky lights on the third floor light up an elliptical staircase and period furnishings.

Many of the other homes have been converted to first class lodgings, shops and restaurants. Stroll the brick sidewalks among these elegant buildings and you’ll find antique and gift shops, art galleries, boutiques and historical landmarks.

For more background about Wiscasset visit the 1811 Lincoln County Museum & Old Jail. It’s the headquarters of the Lincoln County Historical Association and presents exhibits and displays of the area. There’s more history dating back to the Revolution recorded on the tombstones in the old graveyard. Other attractions that will add to your visit are the customs house, the 1812 Powder House, the botanical Sunken Garden and public library housed in the old bank building.

You can include a musical interlude into your holiday when you visit the Musical Wonder House. Guides will demonstrate antique music boxes from around the world and perform on grand player pianos and other instruments.

If you can’t resist cuddly things take a short drive north to visit an alpaca farm.

Also north of Wiscasset is Head Tide Village in Alna. It’s a captivating hamlet that has held the character of a prosperous 18th and 19th century mill town. Poet Edward Arlington Robinson was born here in 1869.

Across the river you’ll find Fort Edgecomb built in 1808 to protect the town harbor. Its octagon blockhouse built with hand-hewn beams shows the skillful engineering of the time.

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DAMARISCOTTA ~ NEWCASTLE

If it weren’t for the Main Street bridge over the Damariscotta River you’d be hard pressed to know whether you were visiting the town of Damariscotta or Newcastle. Known as the “Twin Villages” both towns will entice you with their rich history, exquisite examples of Federal, Greek Revival and Italiante architecture and natural beauty.

You’ll find them at the top of the Pemaquid Peninsula, a name derived from the Abenaki Indians which translates as “long finger.” Damariscotta is an Indian name that means “place of an abundance of alewives,” the small, salty fish which spawn in Damariscotta Lake.

The area was first settled in the 1600s. Struggles with Native Indians prevented permanent communities until 1730 when lumbering, shipbuilding and fishing brought prosperity to the area. Included in the ships built here in 1849 was the Excelsior, the first three-deck vessel constructed in Maine.

Another major industry was brickmaking. Many of the neighborhoods in Boston’s Back Bay were constructed with bricks from the area. You can see examples of this important contribution to the economy in the numerous brick buildings that line the streets of Damariscotta and Newcastle.

To get a sense of the long history of these town visit the Chapman Hall House, Walpole Meeting House, Colonial Pemaquid Restoration and Fort William Henry. Include the Pemaquid Lighthouse and Fisherman’s Museum as part of your tour for some fascinating information about the fishing heritage in the region.

Archeologists uncovered  a massive deposit of oyster shells on the banks of the Damariscatta that date back 2,500 years. The amazing discovery on this site provides evidence of thriving communities of Native Americans in coastal Maine. Visit the Whaleback Shell Midden to learn more about the Indian rituals and feasts of that time.

Driving down the peninsula you’ll arrive at the communities of Bristol, Pemaquid, New Harbor and Round Pond among others. Legends persist that Captain Kidd and other unsavory brigands may have buried treasures in the sandy beaches or protected harbors.

Christmas Cove at the tip of the peninsula on Rutheford Island got its name from Captain John Smith when he landed there on Christmas Day in 1614.

Take time to enjoy the glacial lakes, shady woodlands and tidal rivers along the way. They’re great places for swimming, hiking, golfing tennis, riding and camping during the summer season. The 506-acre Dodge Point Preserve has miles of hiking and  cross country trails. With so much water around you can go fresh and salt water sailing, boating and canoeing or deep sea fishing and on scenic cruises. In the fall you won’t find more colorful foliage anywhere. Bundle up and enjoy the cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing in winter.

The kids will appreciate the Lonna Bunting Children’s Playground and the Central Lincoln County Family Recreational Center. Join them in the fun.

For a refreshing experience in the arts visit the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts where artists first used clay taken from the banks of the river to produce their ceramic creations. The Round Top Center for the Arts showcases the works of talented artists in a renovated dairy barn.

In Newcastle you can take time for reflection at historic St. Patrick’s, the Oldest Catholic Church north of Boston built in 1803 and St. Andrews Episcopal Church built in 1833.

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BOOTHBAY ~ BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Head toward the ocean from North Edgecomb and you’ll have one of the most delightful rides down the Boothbay Peninsula. On one side of the peninsula is the Sheepscot River and on the other is the Damariscatta River. Your drive will take you past the towns of Edgecomb and Boothbay. Each will invite you to linger and enjoy their gift stores, antique shops and galleries. You may want to stay in one of their historic inns, B&Bs, motels, cottages or campgrounds.

Continue driving until you run out of peninsula – you’ve arrived at Boothbay Harbor, both a town and boat-filled harbor. From here you can sail to neighboring island and view the rocky coast and lighthouses, take windjammer cruises, go whale watching and deep sea fishing.   

First settlers arrived in the 17th century and fished the waters around Damariscove Island just off the mainland. They started fishing communities on Cape Newagen, but battles with Indians dispersed the settlers. They returned to the area at Boothbay Harbor and established the town of Townsend in 1730. Other towns sprung up in following years.

By the 1870s vacationers from Boston and beyond discovered the charm of the area and helped develop it as a favored tourist spot.

If you find the peninsula on a map you may think you’re looking down on a giant lobster. With lobstering, along with fishing and ship building, such a major occupation here perhaps Mother Nature was hinting at some plan when this land mass was formed eons ago.

At the tip of one claw of the “lobster” you’ll reach the town of Ocean Point, a great place for surfing. The other claw is Southport Island with the towns of Southport, West Southport and Newagen, each providing you with eateries, shops and wonderful ocean vistas.

You get an in-depth view of life in the ocean at the Maine State Aquarium in West Boothbay Harbor. In addition to interactive displays and exhibits about sea life you can view the 850 gallon tank with sharks, skates and other ocean creatures.

Visit Boothbay Rail Village and ride a train pulled by a classic steam engine. The past comes alive for you at the Hendricks Hill Museum, an 1810 farmhouse with historic material and fishing equipment. Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site on Davis Island in the Sheepscott River has a fort built in 1808 and features a blockhouse, exhibits, picnic area and Revolutionary War reenactments.

Oven’s Mouth Preserve offers 146 acres with trails and marshes for viewing wildlife and relaxing. You’ll find more places to hike at the Gregory Hiking Trail in Boothbay. It’s located on private property, but allowed for public use. Another sight in private hands is Hendrick’s Head Lighthouse. You can view it from land or a sea cruise.

At Ice House Cove you’ll be surprised by the long foot bridge that leads to some quiet picnic areas.

The ocean scenery around Boothbay Harbor made an ideal setting for filming Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical Carousel.

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WOOLWICH ~ GEORGETOWN

As you travel north from Bath and cross the Sagadahoc Bridge spanning the Kennebec River you’ll arrive at the town of Woolwich. History and tradition run deep in Woolwich, which looks forward to celebrating its 250th Anniversary in 2009.

You get a sense of the cultural pride that has persisted over the years by the numerous Native American words that have continued in use for centuries. Villages, districts, streets and waterways in and around the town have lilting, tongue twisting names like Nequosset, which was the original name for Woolwich, Montsweag, Hockomock, Abagadasset and Sasanoa.  

For an appreciation of the impact Native Americans have had in the development of the area, visit the Woolwich Historical Society. It is housed in a 1910 farmhouse and displays early settlers’ lives and historical artifacts. Here you’ll learn that John Bateman and Edward Brown were the first European settlers. In 1639 they purchased most of the area that now comprises Woolwich from an Indian chief with the unlikely name of Robin Hood. This is also a great area to find examples of Native American arts and crafts.

As you drive through the unimposing neighborhoods you’ll see many examples of stately homes. They were built by ship captains and owners with enterprises in neighboring Bath. These homes include the Lt. John Hathorn House, c.1784, Jonathan Preble House, c.1777 and Major John Perkins c.1789 and the Jacob Ames House c.1786 at Thwing’s Point on the Kennebec River.

Some homes have been converted to B&Bs and are filled with antique and period pieces that will add to the ambiance of your visit. For a gratifying outdoor experience visit the Montsweag Preserve. It’s filled with scenic woodlands and stony ledges along a tidal creek.

At Phipps Neck at the southeastern tip to Woolwich you’ll find the Phipps’ Plantation. This is the birthplace of William Phipps in 1651, whose adventurous life included shipbuilding, finding sunken treasure and being knighted by King James II of England. He also commanded troops in the French and Indian War and became the first royal governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692. The plantation has been the site of an archeological dig with several thousand artifacts recovered.

Woolwich shares its name with Woolwich, England, which is also located on a large navigable river. 

Follow the gentle curves of Route 127 from Woolwich and you’ll come to two island communities. One is Arrowsic, with four lighthouses, hiking trails up 66 hilly peaks and acres of scenic woodland and river banks.

The other island is Georgetown, bounded by the Kennebec and Sasanoa Rivers and Sheepscot Bay giving you 82 miles of shoreline to enjoy. Bring your camera or just your imagination to recall the beauty of the sandy beaches, boat filled harbors, rocky coast line, protected coves and wooded marshes. It’s not unusual to see osprey and seals in the waters, bald eagles flying overhead or deer and moose in the forests.

For hiking and bird watching visit the Josephine Newman Wildlife Sanctuary. This wooded park has two and a half miles of trails through meadows, forests and the rocky shoreline.

Reid State Park, once private property, also offers scenic views of salt marshes, dunes and woodlands, plus fine sand beaches and surf crashing against rocky ledges. Don’t miss the Seguin Island Lighthouse at the mouth of the Kennebec River.

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BATH ~ PHIPPSBURG

Whether you arrive by sea or land it’s impossible to miss the city of Bath. Towering high above the tallest rooftops you see giant cranes that have become a landmark for this “City of Ships.” The cranes are part of the Bath Iron Works used in the construction of ships that continues a tradition dating back to the 1600s. Bath will surprise you by its geographic size – just one mile square.

In this compact area you’ll find a bustling harbor, gracious tree lined thoroughfares and a vibrant tourist friendly downtown with shops, galleries and restaurants. Sea merchants who amassed fortunes in the ocean trade used their wealth to build handsome estates which remain popular attractions. You can take a self guided tour of the area.

Favored by its strategic location and deep harbor on the Kennebec River, Bath blossomed as a seafaring town. Shipbuilding started in earnest in 1743 with two vessels built by Jonathan Philbrook and his sons. Through the years the area launched more than 5,000 vessels, among them clipper ships that carried cargoes around the globe. At one time more that 200 shipbuilding firms operated along the Kennebec. Today, Bath Iron Works is a major builder of large merchant ships and battleships for the U.S. Navy. During World War II the yard built a new ship every 17 days.

To experience Bath’s connection to the sea visit the Maine Maritime Museum. It’s located on a 10-acre site that was a former 19th century shipyard. You’ll learn about shipbuilding, the sea trade, lobstering and the dangers of sea life through exhibits, displays and painting. Bring a picnic and let the kids have fun in the children’s play area.

Take a harbor cruise for a waterside view of the historic districts and area lighthouses. 

Live entertainment thrives at the Center for the Arts at Chocolate Church, a renovated church built in 1846 in a distinctive gothic style.

Visit neighboring West Bath to bird watch and take nature walks at the Hamilton Sanctuary operated by the Maine Audubon Society.

Stretching down from Bath is the Phippsburg Peninsula, a jagged sweep of inlets and coves. Half way down the peninsula you’ll come to the celebrated town of Phippsburg. You’ll like the charm of this town where lobstermen work their traps and where you can find antiques, collectibles and galleries.

In this area in1607 members of the Virginia Company of Plymouth, England established Popham Colony, the first section of Maine settled by Europeans. The colony survived only one year. During that difficult time the settlers built the Virginia Of Sagadahoc, believed to be the first ship built in New England. It would be the ship that returned the settlers back to England. Over the years new settlements were established only to be abandoned as a result of Indian attacks.

By 1751, the area was resettled and permanent towns formed. You get a sense of this history at Fort Popham, built in the 1800s. It protected the Maine coast from the Civil War through World War II. Be on the lookout for harbor seals and osprey.

A great place to relax is Popham Beach State Park where you can enjoy its gentle beach and quiet picnic areas.

To see one of the last undeveloped barrier beaches on the Atlantic visit Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area.

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