EASTPORT
A Cultural Mecca and City of Festivals.
This tiny island city lies between Cobscook Bay to the west and Passamaquoddy Bay to the east. From the waterfront walking trail, you can see the Canadian island of Campobello across the channel, and Roosevelt Campobello International Park, where the Roosevelt family’s summer cottage is located and offers tours.
Arts & Culture
The Eastport area enjoys a rich tradition of art and culture. Today’s Eastport arts scene is vibrant with fine art, handcraft, theater, film, music, arts education, galleries, and events. Here a convergence of cultures — Canadian, American, and Passamaquoddy first nation — provide a unique perspective on the world which is reflected in local art.
The Eastport Arts Center nurtures and promotes seven year-round constituent groups engaged in theater, art, music, film, education and community outreach.
- Eastport Gallery
- Stage East
- Northern Lights Film Society
- Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra
- Quoddy Voices
- The Concert Series
The Tides Institute and Museum of Art serves as steward and curator of a dozen unique cultural places along the rural eastern coast of Maine that borders Canada. The Tides has a permanent collection of art and artifacts in addition to rotating exhibits, and also hosts StudioWorks Artist in Residence Program.
The Eastport & Lubec ArtWalks weekends honor deep connections between the two communities of Lubec and Eastport. Enjoy a full slate of music, theater, film and interactive art experiences for all ages.
Historic Downtown
Eastport’s downtown Historic District will take you back in time, with intriguing shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes to visit along the way. The Eastport Historic District encompasses the late 19th-century commercial center of the city. Set on a five-block stretch of Water Street, this area was almost completely redeveloped after a major fire in 1886, and many of its buildings are the work of a single architect, Henry Black. The Eastport Historic District contains 29 buildings in Italianate and Romanesque styles.
In addition to its art collection and art programs, the Tides Institute is also a keystone organization for preserving historic architecture in Eastport.
S. L. Wadsworth’s and Son is the nation’s oldest ship chandlery, and remains family operated after six generations. S.L. Wadsworth’s carries a full range of hardware and gift items.
Raye’s Mustard Mill is the last remaining traditional stone ground mustard mill in North America. At the turn of the last century Raye’s supplied mustard to the two dozen or so sardine canneries in Eastport and all along the coast of Maine. Founded in 1900 by J. Wesley Raye, the Mill moved to its current location in 1903.
Enjoy spectacular views of the “Bold Coast” and a panoramic view of the Canadian islands aboard the Downeast Water Taxi service, with trips to Treat Island and other destinations customizable on request. Look for eagles, seals, porpoise, and whales as you cruise by the Old Sow Whirlpool and East Quoddy Lighthouse. Watch as the Captain and Mate pull lobster traps and share the experience of holding all the creatures that come up from the bottom. You can also schedule Deep Sea fishing trips or book a Sunset Cruise.
The Old Sow, in the Western Passage of Passamaquoddy Bay, is the largest natural whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere. Local sailing, boating, and kayaking tours with a Registered Maine Guide can lead you safely through tidal hazards to all the best wildlife watching spots.
Shackford head state park
The Shackford Head and Overlook Trails (1.2-mile roundtrip) provide fantastic views of Cobscook Bay and surrounding peninsulas. If you enjoy challenging terrain with additional overlooks, continue on the Ship Point Trail (an additional half-mile loop) and return to the parking lot via the Schooner Trail for a total of roughly 2 miles.
From the park’s overlooks, visitors can see Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada, the town of Lubec, and the Eastport cargo pier on Estes Head, as well as aquaculture pens where Atlantic salmon are raised. Park trails afford great opportunities for wildlife watching as well – with warblers and hermit thrushes in the woodland areas, and bald eagles, common terns, and spotted sandpipers along the shore. Ornithologists have documented 28 different bird species nesting on the headland.
You can also travel by kayak to the peaceful Treat Island Preserve for solitude, beautiful beaches, and birdwatching.
A city of festivals
Eastport hosts the largest 4th of July celebration in Maine.
In September, celebrate the bounty of the sea at The Eastport Salmon Festival, then revel the following weekend at The Eastport Pirate Festival.
The Great Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop is a long-standing New Year’s Eve celebration heralding in the New Year’s arrival in Canada and the US, with the traditional drops of the Great Sardine & the Maple Leaf.
Visitor Resources: Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce
Planning Tools
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