Castine

Walking Through History in Mid-Coastal Castine, Maine

Castine is a coastal town in mid-Maine that is home to the Maine Maritime Academy and has significant Revolutionary War history. I didn’t know any of this prior to stopping here during a coastal sail through Penobscot Bay on the Windjammer Angelique. Some of the other passengers onboard were petitioning our Captain to adjust our sails in this direction, and it just so happened the winds (mostly) cooperated.

Above photos: Castine, Maine from the bay

We disembarked for just a few hours and were able to cover quite a bit of ground in that short amount of time. As soon as I got up to the main road from the harbor, I grabbed a walking tour brochure and set off to see the historical homes and town buildings that line the sea-front streets.

Above photos: Castine, Maine

The area closest to the sea has a few shops and cafes. We wandered in-and-out of a few places as we made our way up the hill towards the public gardens, which were beautifully planted and maintained.

Court Street is where it’s all at if you are interested in seeing the buildings maintained by the Castine Historical Society, including the Adams School and Grindle House.

Above photos: Historical buildings in Castine, Maine

Towards the end of Court Street, the Castine Cemetery is a beautiful place to visit to admire the intricate carvings and weathered patinas on sea captains’ headstones. The cemetery was larger than expected, so I spent some time here enjoying the peace and surroundings in this wonderful resting place.

Above photos: Castine Cemetery

The last bit of remaining time in Castine, I took a walk down Perkins Street. The homes along this street look out to Castine Harbor and are flanked by trees that have probably been here longer than the British. Some are on the National Register of Historic Homes. Of course, most of these homes have been through some renovations over the years, but from the outside are impressive examples of Colonial architecture.

Above photos: Perkins Street in Castine, Maine

The Angelique welcomed us back onboard after our afternoon wanderings. We moored just a bit south near Holbrook Island Sanctuary, taking in one last spectacular sunset before our final day at sea.