Maine’s history is one of the richest in America! From authors to painters to freedom fighters and civil war heroes, the stories our ancestors could tell are both fascinating and vitally important to understanding the origins of the state. We may not be one of the first colonies, but Maine’s past is worth remembering. To do that, we’re going to the oldest place in Maine – Kittery!

Kittery was settled in 1623 by the British and was incorporated in 1647, making it (officially) the oldest INCORPORATED town in the state.
mr_t_in_dc / Flickr
You'll find it directly across the New Hampshire border, which is where it gets its nickname of the "Gateway to Maine."
baxterboy / Flickr
While it's got lots of history, it's also home to great attractions that lure tourists throughout the year.
leslee / Flickr
It's (sort of) home to a well-known shipyard.
ragingwire / Flickr
Kittery Point is located directly on the ocean and comes with the Maine views we all expect.
mariano-mantel / Flickr
This part of Kittery is also home to Fort McClary State Historic Site.
petersent - Self-photographed, Public Domain
Fort McClary is a former US military fort located in Kittery Point. Located at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, it was used primarily to protect the Portsmouth harbor and the naval shipyard. The property includes a blockhouse dating from 1844.

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Nearby Gerrish Island will let visitors explore Fort Foster Park, home to Fort Foster which was active from 1901-1946, along with beaches and wonderful trails.
galfred / Flickr
Another great way to explore the outdoors is heading to Cutts Island to see Seapoint Beach and a portion of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
Captain-tucker - Own work, CC BY 3.0
The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is a 5,400-acre area comprised of several areas of land along 50 miles of Maine's southern coast. It was created in 1966 and was named for environmentalist Rachel Carson. The refuge protects habitats that include barrier beach, dune, tidal estuary, salt marsh, and rocky coastline. Endangered species, the piping plover, makes its nest on refuge land.
Kittery is also the home of Bob's Clam Shack!
auvet / Flickr
Their lobster rolls are great, but do yourself a favor and dig into the "Lillian" - a basket of whole belly clams. Visit them at: 315 US1, Kittery / (207) 439-4233
Another great spot for history lovers is The First Congregational Church, which was formed in 1714 and is the oldest church building in continuous use in Maine.
nhoulihan / Flickr
For those in need of retail therapy, Kittery is also home to some great outlet shopping!
Kz2010 / TripAdvisor
There are more than 120 outlets along a one-mile stretch of Route 1, just off I-95. For the full experience, check out Kittery Trading Post, which offers three stories of camping, hunting and fishing, ski, snowboard and kayak gear.
No matter what it is you love, Kittery's sights and sounds are worth the stop.
nhoulihan / Flickr
The next time you're headed home and heading north, perhaps add some time to stop in. Or, make it a road trip and spend some real time here. Either way, it's a wonderful slice of Maine history.

Another important piece of Maine history? Dysart’s! Check out this article to read about why we love it and to see some of the funniest videos you’ll ever see on the internet!

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