Castine, Colonial coastal town in Hancock County, Maine
Castine is a coastal town on a peninsula between Penobscot Bay and the Bagaduce River in southeastern Maine. Tree-lined streets feature Federal and Greek Revival houses that reflect the area's long maritime history and former prosperity as a shipping port.
Founded in 1613, the settlement quickly became contested by French, Dutch, British, and American forces seeking control of its strategic coastal location. Control changed hands multiple times until the United States claimed it permanently in the late 18th century.
The Maine Maritime Academy shapes daily life here, connecting modern officer training to sailing traditions rooted in centuries of harbor work. Visitors notice cadets and training vessels that define the town's identity and its ties to the sea.
Multiple boat launches and docking facilities along the protected harbor make water activities accessible to visitors. The compact downtown is walkable, though a car is useful for exploring surrounding roads and accessing trails that wind through the peninsula.
Four different nations built forts here, making it the most contested settlement in New England during the colonial era. Traces of these fortifications and their stories reveal why this small harbor town held such strategic importance in early American history.
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