Located in Casco Bay off the eastern coast of the United States, Eagle Island is the site of the Eagle Island State Historic Site, which preserves the retirement home of noted polar explorer Admiral Robert Peary.
History
Eagle Island, which is incorporated as part of the town of Harpswell is located approximately 12 miles northeast off the coast of Portland and is a 17-acre island within the Casco Bay archipelago. The island, which reaches a maximum height of 40 feet above sea level, is primarily populated with conifer trees and brush and has a rocky landscape covered with a thin layer of topsoil. The island is best known as the retirement home of Rear Admiral Robert Peary, a noted polar explorer. Peary, who was born in Cresson, Pennsylvania in 1856, worked for the National Geodetic Survey and was an officer in the United States Navy in the late 19th century. He began his polar expedition career in 1886 with an unsuccessful attempt to cross Greenland via dogsled. In 1891, he led an expedition to Independence Fjord, conclusively determining that Greenland’s land mass was an island. An 1898-1902 expedition reached Greenland’s northernmost point of Cape Morris Jessup and set a record for the farthest north recorded expedition. He is best known for his 1908-1909 expedition, which claimed to have reached the North Pole. Though the claim was initially widely disputed by the mainstream press, it gained acceptance in subsequent years and won Perry the Thanks of Congress in 1911, which resulted in his military promotion to Rear Admiral. Perry’s claim has since been disputed in 1989 by British explorer Wally Herbert, who concluded from expedition records that Perry fell 60 miles short of reaching the North Pole.
In 1881, Perry purchased Eagle Island for a sum of $200, and in 1911, he constructed a residence on the island to serve as a retirement home. Perry’s family resided on the island until 1967, when the property was donated to the state of Maine. In 1971, the island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2014, the island was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Attractions
Today, the bulk of Eagle Island is operated as the Eagle Island State Historic Site, which preserves the retirement home of Rear Admiral Peary and its associated structures. The structures are located at the island’s northern end within a Y-shaped clearing area, which is attached to a small public beach and wooden pier constructed in 1969. More than 6,000 annual visitors attend the Historic Site and its associated visitor trails and activities.
The site’s main building is the Peary House, a wood frame house originally constructed in 1904, with additions and renovations made in 1906 and 1912. The home features a large living room, dining area, and kitchen on the first floor, with three bedrooms located on the second floor and a full-height basement. A three-sided porch encircles the home’s first floor, and two concrete stone bastions, constructed in 1912, were formerly used to house Peary’s expedition artifact collection. The home mostly remains in its historic state, with minor renovations performed following roof damage in 1990. A Caretaker’s Cabin is also located on the property, along with a small Visitor’s Center offering historical exhibits of artifacts and island visitor information. The Peary family’s gardens have also been restored to their historic condition and are maintained by park staff.
In addition to the historic home complex, a variety of outdoor activities are offered on the island, including a 1.4-mile trail system within the island’s southern portion. Visitor trails include the Garden Path, which serves as a trailhead for the system, along with the Great Horned Owl Path on the island’s west side and the Admiral’s Way Trail, the island’s oldest trail. Mature hardwoods, ferns, and mayflowers are visible from the trails, along with a white quartz ledge near the island’s south beach. All visitors must check with park staff for trail conditions before embarking on island trails. Motorized boating, fishing, sea kayaking, and wildlife watching are also permitted on the island, and picnic areas are offered for visitors.
Eagle Island is only accessible via boat, with public visitor access provided by the Casco Bay Sights-N-Lights, Seacoast Tours of Freeport, Casco Bay Wild, and Chebeague Water Taxi services. Travel must be scheduled by contacting the touring companies directly, with travel rates available for adults, seniors, and children. A limited number of pier moorings are available for private boats on a first-come, first-served basis, and a small beach on the island’s northern end is provided for kayak and canoe landings. No overnight camping is allowed on the island, and all visitors must follow a full carry-in/out policy in order to protect island wildlife.
