Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Damariscotta (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Damariscotta Baptist Church, Whaleback Shell Midden, and Chapman-Hall House. Also, be sure to include Skidompha Public Library in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Damariscotta (Maine).
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Damariscotta Baptist Church
Building in Damariscotta, Maine. Damariscotta Baptist Church is a historic church at 4 Bristol Road in Damariscotta, Maine. Built in 1843-47 and restyled in 1891, it is a well-preserved example of Greek Revival and Colonial Revival architecture. The building also played a role in the formation of the town, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[1]
Address: 4 Bristol Rd, 04543 Damariscotta
Whaleback Shell Midden
State park in Damariscotta, Maine. Whaleback Shell Midden is a shell midden, or dump, consisting primarily of oyster shells located on the east side of the Damariscotta River in Maine, United States. It is preserved as a Maine state historic site and was included as part of the Damariscotta Oyster Shell Heaps listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Other shell middens are located on the estuary in both Damariscotta and Newcastle. The middens in this area were formed over about 1,000 years between 200 BC to AD 1000.
The midden originally had three main layers of shells. In the bottom two layers, individual shells were generally 5–8 inches (10–20 cm) long. These two layers are separated by a layer of soil, and the middle layer is mixed with animal bones. The top layer contains smaller shells. Artifacts unearthed lead scientists to believe that successive tribes of prehistoric people used the area. The top layer was deposited by members of the Abenaki tribes that fished in the area in the summer.
Originally, the Whaleback midden was more than thirty feet deep, more than 1,650 feet (500 metres) in length, and a width varying from 1,320 to 1,650 feet (400-500 metres). It got its name from its shape. Only a small portion of this midden remains today as much of it was processed into chicken feed from 1886 to 1891 by the Massachusetts-based Damariscotta Shell and Fertilizer company, eroded by rising sea levels, or looted. Because of this, the Glidden midden, located across the river in Newcastle, is now the largest in Maine and the largest on the U.S. east coast north of Georgia.[2]
Chapman-Hall House
Museum in Damariscotta, Maine. The Chapman-Hall House is a historic house museum at 270 Main Street in Damariscotta, Maine. Built in 1754 by one of the area's first permanent white settlers, it is the oldest standing house in the town, and one of the oldest in the state. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[3]
Address: 108 Main St, Damariscotta
Skidompha Public Library
Public library. The Skidompha Public Library is the public library serving Damariscotta, Newcastle, and Nobleboro in Maine.[4]
Stephen Coffin House
The Stephen Coffin House is a historic house at 170 Main Street in downtown Damariscotta, Maine. Built in the first decade of the 19th century, it is a fine local example of Federal style architecture, and is further distinctive for its ell, which is an early surviving example of an attached shop. The house served for many years as home to the Skidompha Public Library, and is now in commercial use. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.[5]