Castine

Castine, Maine overlooks the beautiful Penobscot Bay. This small town is located on the Blue Hill Peninsula. It is surrounded by lush meadows and quaint wooded villages. Castine is one of the older authentic US new England fishing villages. The streets leading to the store columns are shaded by large, ancient elm trees. The vibrant green of the foliage mixed with the dark blue waters of Penobscot Bay be something that you should never miss.

The culture of Castine comes from many generations of seafaring traditions. In fact, over 600 students attend the Maine Maritime Academy located on a hill overlooking the bay. This is the state’s only merchant-marine college.

Castine hosts at least 100 historical sites within the city. The 18th-century architecture would be a great learning experience for parents to share with their children. Some of the landmarks include:

Fort George which was built by the British in 1779 and is now an official state memorial.

Fort Madison which was built by the Americans in 1811, and later occupied by the British during the war of 1812. The Ford was later reconstructed sometime during the Civil War.

The population of testing is about 1300 people which includes the 700 college students that attend the Maine Maritime Academy. Due to tourism, summer residents, and visitors from all over the population of casting doubles during the summer months.

Castine also offers a self-guided tour kit that leads you around to various historical markers around town. The “walking tour of Castine” brochure highlights 50 buildings and other historical sites that allow you to take a walk around town and learn about architecture, culture, and history that makes up testing today.

Things to Do and Places to See

Maine Maritime Academy — as mentioned before the 650 student Academy has a beautiful yet small campus compared to colleges or universities today. It was founded in 1941 and its charter is to prepare men and women for lifetime careers as ship captains, burying engineers, and other maritime professions. Depending on the time of year, you often see cadets from the Academy strolling through the streets of town which only adds to the charm of the city.

Dyce Head Lighthouse — the state of Maine spent a considerable amount of money recently to refurbish the Dyce Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse was first lighted in November of 1828 by then keeper Jacob Shelburne. In 1935 the lighthouse was discontinued when shipping in the area was on a decline. The lighthouse became property of the town of casting in 1937 with the lighthouse itself being turned over in 1956. In the late 1990s, the city voted to repair the lighthouse. The grounds are open to the public every day until sunset. There is a path around the tower that provides great views for the site seeker.

Fort Madison Stake Park — this is the perfect area for a picnic and quick historical lesson. The park has a lot of green areas as well as some historic artifacts — including Cannons and other period items.

Wilson Museum — this museum preserves and displays local records, ship models, dioramas, prehistoric artifacts, and American Indian artifacts. The museum contains a collection of the life travels of John Howard Wilson who was a geologist anthropologist who first visited Castine in the late 1800′s.

Where to Stay

• Castine Inn
  A restored 1890′s summer hotel
  33 Main St
  Castine, ME 04421
  (207) 326-4365