Top 16 Historic Landmarks in Maine

The largest out of all six New England states, Maine is bordered by Quebec and New Brunswick, as well as New Hampshire. Maine was the 23rd state to become a part of the United States on March 15, 1820, as a part of the Missouri Compromise.

The Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to enter into the union as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

Today, Maine is known for its blueberries, lobster, and rocky coastline. Nearly 89 percent of this state is forested, making it a large pulp-paper producer.

Maine was home to Agamenticus, the first chartered city in the nation in 1641. The following year it was renamed Gorgeana, and later it was reincorporated as York.

Located in Cape Elizabeth at Fort Williams Park, the Portland Headlight is one of Maine’s oldest and most famous landmarks. In 1791, this lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington, making it the oldest in the state.

Whale oil lamps were used at the lighthouse’s inception for light. Due to cost, the Portland Headlight was originally only built to a height of 58 feet.

However, once the masons climbed to the top of the lighthouse tower, they discovered that it would not be visible beyond the southern headlands. Today, you can view the picturesque Portland Harbor at 101 feet above sea level.

If you want to check out Maine’s historical roots for yourself, start comparison shopping three to four policies to ensure you have the best coverage and rate. Enter your ZIP code above to start!

Top 16 Historic Landmarks in Maine

Maine certainly has a lot to offer tourists when it comes to historic landmarks and striking views. Out of all the many places one can visit, we narrowed it down to what we consider the top 16 historic landmarks you got to see in Maine.

#1 — West Quoddy Head Light

The West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is a unique tourist destination. It is located on the easternmost point of land in the United States and is Maine’s most recognized lighthouse. The tower stands 49 feet high with a base diameter of 16 feet.

Here you can learn about the history of this lighthouse, view its fascinating exhibits, and find lighthouse art from local artisans and students. Wildlife can also be seen here, such as:

• Bald eagles
• Seals
• Humpbacks
• Finbacks
• Minke whales

Admission is free, and the lighthouse is open daily.

#2 — Bowdoin College Museum of Art

With rotating special exhibitions that explore many different themes and permanent collections, such as those perusing European and American Art during 1500 to 1800 or the Palace Reliefs from Kalhu, there is always something to see at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.

Interactive educational tours are available here for all age groups. Donations are welcome, but admission is free.

The museum is closed on Mondays and all national holidays. It is also important to note that pets are not allowed.

#3 — Farnsworth Art Museum

Located in Rockland, the Farnsworth Art Museum is a place not to be missed by road trippers who have a passion for art. This 20,000 square feet Museum offers a nationally recognized collection of pieces by numerous great American artists.

In fact, there are more than 15,000 works to be seen here.

On the campus, you can also visit the library, the Farnsworth Homestead, and the Olson House. If you are traveling with children, you may also want to spend some time at Julia’s Gallery for Young Artists.

Rockland residents and children under 16 receive free admission, adults will pay $15 to get in, seniors are $13, and students 17 and older are $17.

#4 — Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is arguably the best way to experience nature in Maine. This park is home to the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast as well as many different plant and animal species.

Visitors here can hike the granite peaks, camp in the pristine wilderness, bike historic carriage roads, or simply relax while taking in the stunning scenery that compelled the early 20th century visionaries to donate this land. In the winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Entrance fees are $25 per private vehicle, $20 for a motorcycle, or $12 per person with no car, such as a hiker or bicyclist. Each fee is valid for seven days.

#5 — Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

After many years in the making, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens opened in June of 2007. Since then, more than 100,000 visitors have come each year to see all that these beautiful grounds have to offer such as:

• Botanical art pieces by Maine artists
• A permanent sculpture collection
• A variety of flora from spring bulbs, summer delphinium, and roses
• Many types of fall berries and witch hazel

The gardens are located on 270 acres of tidal shore land and are open daily April 15 through October 31.

Children under three get free admission, adults are $16, seniors ages 65 and over are $14, and children between the ages of three to 17 are $8.

#6 — Nubble Lighthouse

At Nubble Lighthouse, visitors have year-round access to excellent views, painting, photographing, scuba diving, fishing, or simply relaxing. A gift shop and restroom facilities are open seasonally from April through October.

Guests here are often able to see harbor seals, herring gulls, double-crested cormorants, sunfish, and great black gulls.

Leashed dogs are always welcome at Nubble Light. Conveniently located in York, there are a variety of accommodations and restaurants nearby.

The Nubble Lighthouse was completed in July of 1879 and offers a rich history. Today the light and horn are operated and maintained by the United States Coast Guard, while the tower and grounds are under the York Parks Department.

#7 — Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site

If you enjoy United States history, the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site is not to be missed. This site is one of the oldest sites to be occupied by the Europeans in North America and is located at the entrance of Pemaquid Harbor, Maine.

During the early 1600s, it was used as a fishing station, and then it became a permanent settlement. Archaeological excavations have found foundations of structures that were built in the 17th and 18th centuries.

An on-site museum here displays many artifacts that were found in this area, some dating all the way back to prehistoric times.

Here you can also visit the graveyard and herb garden. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the 20th-century reconstruction of Fort William Henry which houses a permanent exhibit. For more information on planning your visit, check out their website.

#8 — Penobscot Marine Museum

The Penobscot Marine Museum works to preserve, interpret, and celebrate the maritime culture of its region. Here you can visit the three-acre Seacoast Village, a collection of eight buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings date back to the early and mid-1800s.

The Seabag Visible Storage Center contains about 100 cultural and nautical artifacts at a time and makes them more accessible for public inspection than a traditional museum exhibit.

Kids are always welcome here. There are many child-friendly exhibits such as a real ship wheel for them to steer and footropes for them to climb. They may also enjoy dressing up in 19th-century costumes and shopping in the general play store.

Hours and pricing can be found here.

#9 — Old Fort Western

Old Fort Western is located in Augusta. Built in 1754, this 18th-century fort is now a National Historic Landmark. Old Fort Western is New England’s oldest surviving wooden fort.

The collections and exhibits here are designed to help transport your mind back to life in New England 250 years ago. Here you can visit not only the fort but also the house and the store to get a full perspective of what life was like in the 18th century.

Admission rates and hours can be found here.

#10 — Fort Knox

Fort Knox is located on the Penobscot River in Prospect. This fort is one of the most well-preserved fortifications to be found on the New England seacoast. To protect the river valley from future British naval incursion, Fort Knox was built beginning in 1844.

You can explore the fort for yourself between May 1 to October 31 from 9 a.m. until sunset. Be sure to check out the observation tower which offers stunning one-of-a-kind views of the Penobscot River Valley.

#11 — Fort Williams Park & Portland Headlight

Fort Williams Park can be found in Cape Elizabeth. Cape Elizabeth’s beautiful shores offer spectacular views no matter what time of day you visit. This 90-acre park is open all year from sunrise to sunset.

Visitors here can enjoy:

• Unlimited ocean views
• Picnic facilities
• Vast areas for sports and recreation
• Various hiking opportunities

Smoking is not allowed in the park and visitors must carry all of their trash out as there are no trash receptacles in the park.

The Portland Headlight and Museum is also located here. Children will enjoy the Children’s Garden, and you can also feast on lobster rolls, sandwiches, and gelato, thanks to the vendors located within the park.

#12 — Wadsworth-Longfellow House

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House was the first house museum to open to the public in Maine. This historic landmark housed three generations of a family that made impacts to the political, literary, and cultural life in New England, and even the entire nation.

In fact, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up in this house and was one of the most famous men of his time.

The house was built in 1785 and 1786. The last person to live in the home was Henry’s younger sister, Anne Longfellow Pierce, who left the house to the Maine Historical Society in 1901. Nearly all household items and artifacts located in the museum originally belong to the Wadsworth and Longfellow families.

The museum is open May through October. Admission runs between $3 to $15 depending on age.

Behind the house, you will find the Longfellow Garden. This secluded Colonial Revival style garden once housed a domestic farmyard for the family. The garden is free and open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. May through October.

#13 — Harriet Beecher Stowe House

Located at 63 Federal Street in Brunswick, Maine, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House was the rented home of Harriet Beecher Stowe and her family during the years 1850 to 1852.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a prominent author who changed the world.

She was compelled to speak out and voice her opinion to invoke change, no matter what. It was at this rented home that Harriet wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin and sheltered John Andrew Jackson, a fugitive slave from South Carolina

The building is a National Historic Landmark and a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. Visitors can learn more about her life and the challenges of that period by touring “Harriet’s Writing Room,” a public space dedicated to commemorating Stowe’s contributions to American literature and history.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is available to tour for free every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

#14 — Victoria Mansion

The Victoria Mansion is a significant landmark to both Portland and the entire nation. Its distinguished architecture and stunning original interiors make it one of the most notable historic homes of the 19th century in all of the United States.

Also known as the Morse-Libby House, this mansion was established in 1860 as a summer residence for Ruggles Sylvester Morse. Morse was a native of Maine with a fortune from building and investing in luxury hotels.

Due to its high quality and careful preservation, the Victoria Mansion is a prime example of pre-Civil War grandeur.

However, after a hurricane in 1938 caused damage to the home, it was scheduled to be demolished and replaced with a gas station in 1940. Thankfully, retired educator, Dr. William H. Holmes purchased it with the intent to preserve it and honored Queen Victoria by opening a museum in the home in her name.

Hours, admission prices, and parking information can be found here.

#15 — Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway Museum

The Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway Museum commemorates the two-foot narrow gauge common carrier railroad that was in operation between 1894 and 1933.

Due to the Great Depression, the railroad was scrapped in 1937. In 1989, the museum was established to rebuild and restore the original railroad.

Today, visitors here can come aboard the train and ride back in time to a simpler life. Steam trains run each weekend in July and August.

Hours are seasonal and subject to change. Children under the age of three are free. All other admission prices are between $5 to $8.

#16 — Seashore Trolley Museum

Located in Kennebunkport, the Seashore Trolley Museum represents almost every American city that has had a streetcar system and even some cities globally.

Founded in 1939 with one open trolley car, this museum has now grown to be the premier electric railway museum in the world.

Visitors here can enjoy displays that tell of the history of mass transportation and learn about streetcar restoration.

The museum is open every day, rain or shine, between Memorial Day and Columbus Day as well as weekends in May and October. Children under three receive free admission, other admission prices range between $5 to $10.

Traveling Safely in Maine

Your Maine road trip can be much more enjoyable if you take a little time to prepare before going. Consider the following tips:

• Know the landmarks you want to see – You could likely spend months traveling around this state visiting all of its sights and landmarks. Alas, most of us do not have the time or budget to do so. Researching the landmarks and deciding on which are of most interest to you will help you make the most of your trip.
• Map your trip ahead of time – Mapping out which roads you will take and even knowing which alternate roads are available will help your trip go smoothly.
• Tune-up your car ahead of time – Before starting on your adventure, get your car checked out by a mechanic. Take care of any problems or maintenance that is due so that you can ensure a trip without any unexpected bumps in the road.
• Travel with an emergency kit – When packing, don’t forget to take an emergency kit. While this may not be the most glamorous piece of luggage you put in your vehicle, it is essential to any road trip. You should pack a first aid kit, road flares, a blanket, high-energy snacks, and extra water. Depending on the time of year, you may also want to pack winter gear and a shovel.
• Watch out for wildlife – Maine has plenty of natural wildlife for viewing. The only problem is when it decides to detour onto your road. Always keep an eye out for any wildlife that may have ventured into your path. Being vigilant can help prevent any accidents.
• Make sure you have the right car insurance – Before leaving, you should also check your auto insurance policy. Be sure that it is current and fits your current needs.

Comparing several different auto insurance carriers and policies can help you make the best decision when it comes to auto insurance coverage.

While cost is an important factor, you should also read reviews from customers, consider their level of customer service, and look at their history. Your decision should not be based on rates alone.

Looking to tour Maine’s historic landmarks soon? Start comparison shopping today for better auto insurance rates before hitting the road! Enter your ZIP code below!