Settled by Europeans in 1604, this quintessential New England town is one of the oldest in the nation. Steeped in history, Castine is the only town on the Peninsula to have been occupied at various times by the French, the Dutch and the English. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Penobscot River estuary, along with such colorful figures as Paul Revere and the Baron de St. Castin, made the town a notable trading and maritime center, and a prominent player in the fight for American independence. Castine’s history long pre-dates the 1600’s, however. The Wabanaki peoples gathered in the area each summer, for millennia. Natural features in Castine and nearby towns feature in origin stories of the area’s indigenous forebears.
Today, Castine offers one of the most authentic experiences in Maine, with its rarely crowded streets, stately homes and accessible views across the water to nearby islands. Learn how life used to be! Several options are available for guided and self-guiding tours of its historic buildings as well as three fort sites and Dyce’s Head Lighthouse (donations welcome). Harbor tours are offered by boat in summer – perhaps catching sight of a visiting windjammer. Castine’s downtown offers a wonderful mix of architectural styles; its two inns offer gracious hospitality, while a range of dining options await. Explore the small selection of exceptional shops and galleries that lead down to the waterfront, and the several nature preserves that offer easy to moderate trail walks in the woods, fields and shore areas around Castine. Visitors may also picnic at the dock, the back shore beach at Wadsworth Cove, and historic sites such as Fort Madison overlooking the water, or ramble the streets while enjoying the view of sailboats and refreshing summer breezes.
Summer season in Castine offers something for everyone. Our 4th of July events include a parade, firetrucks, hot dogs, watermelon and a variety of children’s events on Town Common – a classic American experience. The day ends with a wonderful fireworks display over our historic harbor. Also in July, we celebrate our French heritage with July 14th Bastille Day events (which may include lectures, cooking demonstrations and more) along with kid-friendly events on the Town Common, music and our own Picnic en Blanc with hundreds, dressed in white, seated together as if at a long common table. The Golf Club course is open to the public, while all summer long, the Castine Yacht Club hosts local races on Penobscot Bay, in a variety of classes, as well as the Camden to Castine Classic in late July. Children’s lessons in sailing, tennis, golf and kayaking are open to all, with scholarships available for local students. Throughout the summer, events and lectures are hosted by the Wilson Museum, Castine Historical Society, Witherle Memorial Library and the Castine Arts Association, where parents and children alike enjoy an array of programs in the arts, local history, literature and the outdoors. Castine welcomes visitors with simple pleasures from a time past, combined with a remarkable degree of cultural and active entertainment options.