The Town of Harpswell, located on Casco Bay, is a unique coastal community. For well over a hundred years it has been a mecca for vacationers seeking a saltwater environment, a serene way of life, and an abundance of natural beauty.

Harpswell is composed of a ten mile peninsula reaching out into the Bay from Brunswick, three large islands - Sebascodegan (Great Island), Orr's and Bailey -which are connected by bridges, and of over 200 smaller islands ranging from Eagle Island to Thrumcap, a speck of an island in Pott's Harbor. That there are 150 miles of shoreline on Harpswell attests to its economic base in the fishing industry and its attraction to visitors who love boating, swimming, and fishing. It is a sailor's paradise. Robert Carter, cruising in Casco Bay way back in 1858, described the Bay as having "many bold and picturesque headlands and peninsulas so that scarcely anywhere else in the world can you find a more varied or more lovely commingling of land and water." Today's visitor has a wealth of choices. There are B&Bs and inns, some in wonderful historic homes. There are numerous restaurants for dining, often on lobsters and clams fresh from the waters of the Bay. There are historic and scenic sites, boats for rent and fishing and sailing charters. There is a wealth of natural beauty from the dramatic Giant Steps on Bailey, to the sweeping views of Harpswell Sound from Harpswell Neck along with intriguing working harbors. And don't forget to consider a fall visit; our changing foliage colors are a very special treat.

Harpswell's location close to neighboring Brunswick, a charming town which is home to Bowdoin College, to Freeport and its shopping mecca anchored by L.L. Bean, to Bath a shipbuilding town with a splendid Maritime Museum and access to broad sandy beaches, and to Portland, Maine's largest city, provides another layer of activities. There are museums and music, historic sites , as well as outdoor activities ranging from golf and tennis to hiking in nature preserves. There is so much to see and do in Harpswell.

• A Brief History of Harpswell