Located in Casco Bay off the eastern coast of the United States, Chebeague Island, also referred to as Great Chebeague Island, is one of 12 major islands within the Calendar Islands and is the largest island within Casco Bay not connected to mainland Maine by a vehicle bridge.
History
Chebeague Island, also known as Great Chebeague Island, is located approximately 10 miles off the coast of Portland, Maine. The name of Chebeague Island is thought to have evolved from the Wabanaki Confederacy term chebiscodego, which roughly translates to “island of many springs.” Prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America, the island was used by indigenous tribes as a fishing and gathering location during the summer months. In 1746, European settler Zachariah Chandler purchased 650 acres on the island. In the following years, much of the island’s land was cleared for farmland, with early island commerce developing around the fishing and stone sloop construction industries. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the island became a popular tourist spot for New England urbanites looking for weekend getaways and vacations in more natural, non-industrial settings. In 2002, the island began to pursue secession legislation to become an independent entity from the town of Cumberland, Maine, which it had been affiliated with since the late 19th century. In 2006, the island’s independence vote successfully passed in both Maine legislature houses, and the island’s secession officially took place on July 1, 2007.
Attractions
Today, Great Chebeague Island is the largest of 17 islands that comprise the Town of Chebeague, which was officially incorporated in 2007. As the largest island within Casco Bay that is not connected to mainland Maine by a bridge, the island is one of only two islands within the bay with a substantial year-round population. The three-mile-long island has a year-round population of approximately 350, with summer population more than tripling due to tourist activity. During low tides, a foot-travel sandbar connects the island to nearby Little Chebeague Island, which is owned by the Maine Bureau of Parks and operated as an undeveloped public park area offering camping and swimming facilities.
A single paved loop road spans the length of the island and provides access to most attractions, though some beaches and attractions are only accessible via unpaved roads. All beaches on the island are considered state land and are accessible for visitors at any time. Visitors are advised to take caution on shorelines and while boating, as ocean floor geography and tide conditions can vary drastically and cause dangerous conditions at short notice. As water conditions in the ocean rarely reach above 60 degrees Fahrenheit even in the summer months, visitors should use shoreline inlets and coves for public swimming, which offer warmer water conditions. A variety of wildlife may be observed on the island, including deer, red foxes, loons, and gray and black back gulls. Harbor seals and porpoises may also be observed along the island’s shoreline.
The island’s historic schoolhouse, which was closed in 1956, has been converted into a museum facility for the Chebeague Island Historical Society, which is open to the public during the summer months and offers a variety of exhibits on the island’s social and cultural history. Year-round public facilities include the Chebeague Island Library and the Chebeague Island Boatyard, which offers storage and mooring services for boaters. The island’s only church, the Chebeague Island Methodist Church, is its oldest public institution, dating back to the late 18th century. A community center also offers public event programming, including a variety of themed summer camps for local youth.
Nine holes of golf are offered at the Great Chebeague Golf Club, with shoreline views at every hole. Several restaurants are located on the island, including the Slow Bell Cafe and the Niblic, located at the Chebeague Island Boatyard. A gift shop at the Niblic also sells crafts and goods created by local artisans. Produce and goods are sold at Doughty’s Island Market and the seasonal Second Wind Farm. Overnight accommodations are offered at the Greek Revival-style Chebeague Island Inn, a restored 1920s-era hotel with 21 guest rooms and a full-service fine dining restaurant.
Chebeague Island is accessible from the mainland via the Casco Bay Lines passenger transit service, which transports more than one million annual travelers to eight islands within Casco Bay and provides mail service and education transportation for island residents. The service, which began year-round transit in 1878 as the Casco Bay Steamboat Company, was rebranded as Casco Bay Lines in 1919 and taken over by the nonprofit Casco Bay Island Transit District corporation in 1981. Daily ferry service is provided from Portland and nearby Bailey, Peaks, Great and Little Diamond, Long, and Cliff Islands and Diamond Cove. A variety of scenic tours and special excursion cruises are also offered, including music cruises featuring local musicians and special event cruises in correlation with major holidays. Ferry service is also provided by the Chebeague Transportation Company, which departs from Cousins Island, and by several private water taxi services.