9 Towns in Maine that Transport You to the Past
Long ago, the Algonquin people called the state of Maine “The Land of the Frozen Ground”—probably at the time of the last ice age. But these days, Maine is now the land filled with several historic towns that will transport you into the past. Want to see what the first town in Maine looks like or how it started? Then, head over to Kittery. Want to see the homes of American Civil War heroes? Then, seek out the small town of Brunswick. And do you want to go fishing for worms? Then, try out all the activities in Wiscasset. There are many more towns in Maine that will transport you to the past and immerse you into the everyday wonders of the present.
Kittery
Since its founding in 1647, the small town of Kittery has remained the first town in Maine near the border of New Hampshire. Back when it was a Native American settlement, it was known as Amiciskeag, which is an Algonquin word that means “fishing point.” It was renamed Piscataqua Plantations when pioneers from Europe arrived, and then it was called Champernowne’s after local pioneer Captain Francis Champernowne. Its final name, Kittery, is likely based on the Kittery Court, which was the family home of one of the town’s founding members, Alexander Shapleigh, who lived in Kingswear, England.
The town is renowned for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey’s Island. It was there that General William Whipple, who signed the Declaration of Independence and fought in the Battle of Saratoga, made his home. Additionally, it was in this shipyard that many American ships were produced during World War II. In true fashion to its original Algonquin name, travelers can find an abundance of fishes at Badger’s Island, Kittery Point, and the Isles of Shoals. Furthermore, you might be interested in treasure-hunting at Appledore and Smuttynose Islands, where the loot of some of the most notorious pirates like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd is supposedly hidden. Should you desire to see more of Kittery, you can start by booking a room in The Kittery Inn and Suites or The Water Street Inn.
Scarborough
From its humble beginnings and incorporation in 1658, Scarborough has thrived as a premier resort town in Maine. Only about seven miles south of the city of Portland, give yourself a much-needed vacation from the big city by gallivanting through several scenic areas in Scarborough, such as the Scarborough Marsh, the largest contiguous tidal marsh in Maine. At Dunstan River, birdwatchers can go looking for fowls and other species that are local to Maine. Elsewhere, the Scarborough Beach State Park promotes splendid and serene shorelines from the oldest resort town in Maine. Prouts Neck thrives as a peninsula community south of Scarborough Beach State Park, where one can admire Winslow Homer’s impeccable artworks at the Portland Museum of Art. If you ever get fatigued from all the fun, you can certainly refresh yourself in suitable accommodations such as the Higgins Beach Inn.
Brunswick
Approximately 26 miles north of Portland, the small town of Brunswick is one of the best places to visit the many marshlands and islands around the falls of the Androscoggin River. Built in 1628 as Pejepscot, a trading post for the British Empire, Brunswick was made famous for being the home of Joshua Chamberlain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Both fought their own wars in the American Civil War, with Chamberlain, a former professor at Bowdoin, participating in the Battle of Gettysburg and Stowe being a member of the Underground Railroad and writer of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
In different months of the year, the Bowdoin International Music Festival attracts hundreds of people with its lively musical performances. Meanwhile, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art—one of nine art museums along the Maine Art Museum Trail—captivates visitors with its impressive galleries. You can certainly learn more about the past from both the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum and the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum. Finally, you can spend your quiet nights at either The Brunswick Hotel or The Federal.
Wiscasset
National Geographic recently praised Wiscasset for being the “Worm Capital of the World” because of the local activity for worm digging. Only about 18 miles east of Brunswick and sitting placidly beside the tidal waters of the Back River and Sheepscot River, travelers can also partake in clam grabbing, lobster fishing, and other activities in Wiscasset. When touring Fort Edgecomb, one of the best-preserved blockhouses in the US since 1809, you can get a glimpse into the strange past of Wiscasset in addition to exploring the Lincoln County Museum.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln County Courthouse is widely considered the oldest functioning courthouse in New England, and nearby the Castle Tucker and the Nickels-Sortwell House are exquisite Federal-style, 19th-century mansions for those with Victorian tastes. Engage your muscles and spend your hours when playing at the Monkey C Monkey Do Park, or relax in relaxing establishments like the Wiscasset Woods Lodge.
North Yarmouth
North Yarmouth, around 16 miles north of Portland, will have you cheering and whooping in excitement for all the numerous opportunities for exploration in this rural landscape of Maine. Along the Royal River are a number of residential homesteads that have retained their original image since their construction in 1680. When traipsing through the arboreal and outdoor wilderness of Wescustogo Park and Chandler Brook Preserve, you can feel the tension and anxiety you might be harboring just melting away. Let your woes wither away further when exploring the Desert of Maine, home to a barn museum from 1783 that showcases North Yarmouth’s old-school agricultural habits. At Eartha Globe Museum, you can better appreciate the imagery of planet Earth, while destinations like Pratt’s Brook Park, Bradbury Mountain State Park, Sebago Lake, and Frye Island will have you falling in love with the natural beauty of planet Earth.
Paris
In Maine, there is a chic small town called Paris that, oddly enough, does not have many cultural and historical connections with the city of Paris in France. Nevertheless, this small town incorporated in the year 1793 served as a humble home for Hannibal Hamlin, who served as Vice President of the US when President Abraham Lincoln was in his first term. Since the town is located on top of a Paleozoic bed of quartz crystallization called pegmatite, travelers might stumble upon semi-precious minerals such as beryl, garnet, tourmaline, amethyst, and smokey quartz. For those of you who like living in the moment, you can head over to the Celebration Barn Theater for vibrant performances. You might also want to go hiking through the Streaked Mountain Trail or stroll through McLaughlin Garden. Either way, you will not be disappointed in your adventures through the Maine town of Paris.
Castine
On the east side of Penobscot Bay lies the pristine town of Castine. Once a site of contention for the British Empire and the nations of France and the Netherlands, Castine has preserved much of its quaint and quintessential New England architecture as seen in the Wilson Museum or in the military barracks of Fort George. There is also the Castine Post Office, one of the oldest continuously operating post offices in the US, and a 24-foot-long quilt that commemorated the town’s bicentennial in 1996 and features a few pictures regarding Castine’s history. Castine is mainly renowned for being the home base of the Maine Maritime Academy, where graduate officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and other marine-related industries mostly come from. If you are interested in seeing more of Castine, then you should seek accommodations at the Pentagoet Inn, The Castine Inn, or Castine Cottages.
Biddeford
Biddeford is widely praised for being Maine’s youngest town not because it was recently created—it was, in fact, made around the 1600s—but because the median age of the town’s residents is around 35. Within this young and old community are a number of historic landmarks, such as the award-winning Southern Maine Heath Care and the University of New England. The First Parish Meetinghouse, built in 1758, endures as the oldest public building in Biddeford, whereas the Maine Classic Car Museum stands as one of the best museums to see vintage cars from a bygone era. Naturally, you can always go trekking through Clifford Park's 140-acre trail system or in wilderness habitats like the Rachel Carson U.S. Wildlife Preserve and the East Point Audubon Sanctuary. Before the day ends, you can either continue exploring in places like the Blandings Park Wildlife Sanctuary and Fortunes Rocks Beach or return to your hotel rooms at The Lincoln Hotel or other such accommodations.
Camden
Approximately 53 miles from Castine, the compelling town of Camden sits on the west side of Penobscot Bay in Maine’s MidCoast region. With its vivacious and anachronistic 19th-century architecture at the High Street Historic District, Camden thrives from a sublime community that revels in all four seasons of a turning year. Whether you are learning more about the past at the Camden Public Library with its landscaped amphitheater or watching and listening to magnificent music, plays, and films at the Camden Opera House, you will undoubtedly be enamored by the town’s bountiful activities and attractions.
Get a good view of the surrounding land from atop the Bald Mountain Preserve and the Ragged Mountain Preserve, or get a closer look at the bay from the Camden Hills State Park. Take pictures of Mount Battie from advantageous areas like the Barrett's Cove Public Beach or from atop the historic Mount Battie Tower. Last but not least, retreat to resplendent lodgings like the Camden Riverhouse Hotel and Inns, the Hartstone Inn, or Camden Harbor Inn.
As the biggest lobster harvester in the whole US, Maine has many reasons for being one of the best destinations in New England. Not only are its small towns lush and serene and beautiful, but the towns in Maine have a way of transporting you into the past, whether at the beginning of the American Revolution or at the end of World War II. Beyond the natural wonders of Maine, such as Acadia National Park and Mount Katahdin, you can opt for a visit to the historical periods of Maine alongside the modern amenities of a state widely praised as “Vacationland.” So make sure you have a memorable and desirable vacation in the Vacationland of Maine, particularly in the historic towns in Maine that will transport you into the past.
