Located in Lincoln County, Maine, the community of Southport includes the villages of Southport, West Southport, Cape Newagen, and Squirrel Island, with most residents and town activity located on the main island of Southport Island. The rugged coastline of the state of Maine was formed as the result of glacier retreat at the end of the last Ice Age approximately 11,700 years ago.

History

Today, more than 4,000 islands, inlets, and bars are located off the coast of Maine. A large number of Maine’s islands remain uninhabited or are preserved as natural refuges, including the islands preserved as part of Acadia National Park. Many islands have been developed and house seasonal or year-round populations, offering historic lighthouse facilities, New England-style towns and villages, and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and kayaking. Most of the islands within the Gulf of Maine are accessible via ferry or water taxi service from coastal harbor cities such as Portland, Boothbay, and Portsmouth.

Southport Island’s Cape Newagen, located on the island’s southern tip, served as an early fishing outpost for European colonists in North America. The island was historically referred to as Cape Newagen Island and was formerly incorporated as part of the town of Boothbay, but in 1842, it was incorporated as a separate township under the name of Townsend, in honor of Lord Townshend. In 1850, the town’s name was changed to Southport.

Attractions

Today, Southport is located within Lincoln County, Maine and is home to a year-round population of more than 600 people. The town’s land area encompasses more than 17 square miles on several islands located at the mouth of the Sheepscot River, including the main Southport Island. The islands are connected to nearby Boothbay Harbor by a green swing bridge and are crossed by Maine State Routes 27 and 238, offering cultural attractions, dining experiences, and overnight accommodations in a historic, quaint atmosphere.

The history of Southport is on display at the Hendrick’s Hill Museum, which is hosted within a historic house facility constructed by John Cameron in 1810. The home served as a residence for local fishermen for more than a century before it was sold to Elsworth Besaw in 1910, a baker from Bath, Maine. After Besaw sold the home to Ezra Pratt, it stayed in the Pratt family until it was donated to the Southport Historical Society in 1987 and moved from its original Pierce’s Cove location. Today, the home is operated as a living history museum facility showcasing original furnishings and exhibits about the island’s history. It is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in July and August throughout the morning and afternoon hours.

Restaurants within Southport include Robinson’s Wharf, which is one of the most acclaimed seafood shacks in the state of Maine and serves fresh lobster, oyster, and shrimp dishes. The restaurant offers dock seating overlooking nearby Townsend Gut. Overnight accommodations are offered at the Ocean Gate Resort, which also rents canoes for tours of the island’s surrounding waterways, and the Newagen Seaside Inn, which offers premium guest room and cottage accommodations.

A pub is also offered at the Newagen Seaside Inn, serving cocktails, locally-produced seafood dishes, and dishes with farmstand-sourced produce. Live local music is presented at the restaurant on Thursday and Sunday nights, and on Tuesday nights throughout the summer, lobster bakes are held on the inn’s lawn.

Outdoor activities on the island include Southport Beach, which overlooks the historic Hendrick’s Head Lighthouse. The present two-story keeper’s house and tower structure of the light station, which was established in 1829, was constructed in 1875. Though the light station was deactivated temporarily in 1933, it was reactivated in 1951 and is continuously lit, with white light shown on its west side and red light on its east side. In 1987, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors should be advised that the community and natural area of Squirrel Island, which is incorporated as part of the town of Southport, is a private island community and tourist travel is discouraged by area residents.

Boothbay Harbor

Southport is located near the community of Boothbay Harbor, which has been named as the number two destination on Downeast Magazine’s list of prettiest Maine villages. The area serves as a popular tourist destination for visitors throughout the New York and New England regions, offering a variety of family and visitor attractions, including the Maine State Aquarium, which offers a 20-foot touch tank. Other cultural attractions include the Boothbay Railway Village and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

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