History

The history of the 16 communities of the Southern Midcoast Maine Region is as old as our country. Indeed, 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of the building of the Virginia by the English at the Popham Colony,  in what would become the United States. Shipbuilding continues today at Bath Iron Works and numerous small boatyards.

But the English were not the first explorers. The French explorer Samuel de Champlain is believed to have mapped the lower reaches of the Kennebec River in 1605. A stone found at Popham Beach has been attributed to Norse Vikings.

Before the European explorers, Native Americans were well established: the Abenaki tribe including Pejepscots of Brunswick & Topsham, Sheepscots around Wiscasset and Sagadahocs of the Kennebec…their names live on today in rivers, counties, and even business names.

Initially settlements were based on the fur trade and then farming. Numerous "French and Indian" wars were fought with a profound effect on inhabitants. In the mid to late 1700's the power of the rivers were harnessed for a variety of mills and later factories. Maine became a State in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise and William King of Topsham and Bath became Maine's first governor. From the 18th into the 20th century waves of Irish and then French-Canadian immigrants kept the mills running. Fort Andross and the Bowdoin Mill still stand on the banks of the Androscoggin, fresh with new economic activity.

Explore

Explore our history by walking through National Historic Districts, many of which include individual buildings that are National Register of Historic Places: Bath; Day's Ferry in Woolwich; Federal Street, Lincoln Street and Pennellville in Brunswick; Auburn Colony in Harpswell, Old Union Hotel in Cundy's Harbor, Topsham, Richmond and downtown Wiscasset.

Special and unique places

Here are just a few of our special and unique places:

Androscoggin Swinging Bridge (c.1892) built by John A. Roebling Sons Co., it is a steel and wood structure that was recently restored. Workers from Topsham Heights crossed to get to work at the Cabot Mill (Fort Andross). National Register of Historic Places.

Bailey Island Cribstone Bridge (c.1926) - One of a kind! A National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Consisting of granite blocks laid honeycomb fashion, it links Orr's Island and Bailey Island. National Register of Historic Places.

Bowdoin College, founded in 1794. Massachusetts Hall (c.1807) a National Register of Historic Places. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, U.S. President Franklin Pierce and Nathanial Hawthorne attended in the 19th century and 20th century US Senators William Cohen and George Mitchell and US Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson attended.

First Parish Church (c.1846) - Harriet Beecher Stowe saw a vision while attending services and began "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Gen. Joshua Chamberlain was a long-time member. A number of other churches are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort Popham, Fort Baldwin (National Register of Historic Places) Fort Edgecomb

Harriet Beecher Stowe House The author wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in this Brunswick home and her husband's office at Bowdoin College. (Not open to the public.) National Register of Historic Places.

Kennebec-Chaudiere International Corridor A natural highway for centuries between Quebec City, the St. Lawrence and Gulf of Maine. A portion is the Arnold Trail to Quebec. (Our region comprises the Tidewater Kennebec River section.)

Resources

Are you ready to delve further into the history of our communities or gather information for family genealogy? Use these resources:

Also see "Museums" on this website.

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