Although I have not visited yet, this is one of the hottest spots in our area. People from all walks of life take the ten mile, hour long ferry ride from Port Clyde (1), Damariscotta eager to reach this small island. Barely one square mile in area, this island is home for less than eighty people. Though there are seventeen miles of hiking trails, under twenty percent of the island is inhabited.
When visiting, people are amused by the seals frolicking in the harbor and awe struck by the rocks standing end to end by a ship wreck . . . when they should be toppling into the surf. Because the only access to the mainland is by water, owning a boat for an islander is as common as owning a car for a mainlander. Not to mention that the islanders make their living by fishing or lobstering.
What is the attraction to historic Monhegan Island?
The beauty, for one. Artists, poets and authors come to soak up the inspiration in the wind and the waves. “City-folks” come to see what its like to breath clean air, see a sun set over the sea and experience nature while hiking the woodland trails. Others come to experience the history behind this small fishing village and artist’s colony first hand, rather than reading about it in books or articles like this. Whatever the reason, people are drawn to this place like magnets.
This quaint community has one library, a one room school house, no bank, no hospital and no cars or paved roads. The “islanders” work hard to preserve the island’s historic beauty, though a truck or two does exist on the dirt roads for businesses. Purple lupines, pink sea roses and golden black-eyed Susan speckle the island and over the 600 plus acres of wilderness. It is no wonder this beauty has been captured so many times by artists and photographers.
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