Boothbay Harbor: Mysterious History & Lore Walking Tour｜United States

Begin your walking tour in Whale Park, where Boothbay Harbor’s seafaring history comes to life. Hear tales of Damariscove Island, the birthplace of America, and learn about the town’s sailors, sea captains, fishermen, shipbuilders, and pirates.

Next, head to Pier One and uncover the intriguing connection between Queen Elizabeth I, a “seal ring,” Outer Heron Island, and a $1 billion dukedom. Then, stroll along America’s longest wooden footbridge, enjoying spectacular harbor views, including Maine’s oldest unaltered lighthouse, and stories about the town’s smuggling era.

See the town’s oldest brick residence, the Auld-McCobb House, and listen to stories about the earliest indigenous people to inhabit this region called the Red Paint People of Maine. Then, visit the Boothbay Memorial Library and hear about a mysterious stranger who checked into the Hotel Fullerton and headed out for a glimpse of the ocean. Her identity and untimely end are still unsolved mysteries.

Continue to Captain Sawyer’s Place, the historic home built by Captain William E. Sawyer, one of the last great Grand Banks fishermen. Then, visit the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, where boatbuilders carry on the techniques of traditional wooden boatbuilding and restoration, all while utilizing modern materials and equipment to be at the forefront of this storied industry.

Finally, see the Tugboat Inn and Restaurant, where the tugboat Maine, built in 1917, was driven ashore and incorporated into the inn. End your tour back at Whale Park, where you can see the lovely Our Lady Queen of Peace church across the harbor and listen to stories about Jimmy Dean saving its church bells and President Kennedy’s visit in 1962.