Located in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Damariscove Island is an uninhabited island noted for its historic connection to early American settlers and conflicts, operated today as a natural preserve by the Boothbay Region Land Trust.
History
Damariscove Island is a two-mile-long island located approximately five nautical miles off the coast of Maine along the mouth of the Damariscotta River. The history of human occupation of Damariscove Island dates back prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America, when the island was used as a fishing and settlement site by the Abenaki indigenous people. The island was settled as a seasonal commercial fishing settlement as early as 1604, with documentation of official charting of the island by Captain John Smith in 1614. The island’s name is credited to Popham Colony member Humphrey Damerill, who moved to the region in 1608. By 1622, the island had been established as a permanent year-round fishing colony, noted for its assistance to Plymouth Colony pilgrims in the spring of that year.
In 1671, Massachusetts Bay Colony extended its eastern borders and laid its claim to the island, establishing a local government and assessing taxes over the following years. Five years later, after an indigenous attack on European settlements east of the Kennebec River, 300 refugees arrived on the island from nearby settlements. The island was the target of several attacks throughout the following years, including indigenous attacks and raids during King William’s War of 1689 and Father Rale’s War of 1725. By the time of the American Revolutionary War, the island had established a significant farming and fishing industry, but by the late 19th century, most farming activity, with the exception of dairy farming, had moved to other areas within the region. By the mid-20th century, the island was largely uninhabited and its previous one-room schoolhouse was closed.
In 1897, the United States Life-Saving Service constructed the Damariscove Lifesaving Station, which was operated by the United States Coast Guard until 1959 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Much of the island has been protected as a nature preserve since 1966, when large portions of its land was donated to the Nature Conservancy. In 2005, the Nature Conservancy transferred care of the nature preserve to the Boothbay Region Land Trust. Since 2009, the island and nearby Monhegan and Boon Islands have been maintained as test sites for the development of offshore deepwater wind power technology.
Attractions
Today, Damariscove Island is an uninhabited island that is incorporated as part of nearby Boothbay Harbor and is largely maintained as a natural preserve area by the Boothbay Harbor Land Trust nonprofit organization. Due to its connection to early American settlers and conflicts, the island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The island’s Damariscove Lifesaving Station remains under private ownership, though it has not been operated since 1959. Several areas of the island are also used as mooring and storage docks for nearby commercial fishing fleets.
Two guest moorings are operated at the island by the Boothbay Harbor Land Trust, along with a stone pier for visitor landing. The site is open to the public via private boat travel throughout the summer months, and a public visitor trip to the island is offered by the Land Trust annually. Three miles of hiking trails are provided on the island. Visitors should be advised that most trail areas traverse very rocky land and should wear sturdy protective footwear when exploring trails. Large populations of nesting seabirds and muskrats are visible, along with ruins of homesteads and public structures from the island’s era of habitations. Visitors should be advised that the northern half of the island is a protected bird nesting site for the common elder bird. A small museum run by the Land Trust is also offered, showcasing displays of native flora and fauna and historic whaling and fishing equipment.
Ongoing Programs and Events
An annual public visitor excursion to the island is offered every summer, with guided exploration of the island’s museum and trails offered for excursion participants. In addition to programming on Damariscove Island, the Boothbay Harbor Land Trust offers a variety of nature programming throughout the Boothbay Harbor region, including naturalist-led hikes, health-focused forest bathing walks, and walk and talk programming with nature and science professionals. Year-round programming is offered for children and youth, including a Babes in the Woods program for children five and under during the summer months. Field trip programming may also be scheduled for elementary and secondary school groups, including trips to Damariscove Island.
