Coastal Maine

"Maine was one of the first regions of North America to be explored and populated by Europeans. In 1524, Giovanni Verrazano became the first European to leave a verifiable account of reaching its striking jagged coastline. His journey inspired other explorers to travel to Maine's shores and to found colonies along the coast. By the beginning of the eighteenth century Maine was populated by resilient settlers, whose livelihood depended on the abundance of fish and lumber. Trees tilled from the dense forests quickly fostered Maine's development into a preeminent shipbuilding community. The settlers needed boats of all sizes both for fishing and to transport lumber and other commodities up and down the coast. Soon privateers, clipper ships, Downeasters, and coal schooners were built in Maine, financed by Maine owners, and managed by Maine merchants. By the end of the nineteenth century, Maine's myriad boatyards were producing coastal steamers, ocean-going cargo vessels, and destroyers, as well as elegant yachts. At the same time, fishermen were building sloops and lobster boats in almost every quiet cove.".

"No one knows Maine's maritime past better than Roger Duncan. Here he recounts four hundred years of that rich history from the early seafarers' discovery of its valuable resources and the families that settled the land to Maine's role in the history of the United States, in peacetime and in war. He also traces the changes that have affected Maine's economy during the past century: the demise of the coastal trade when first trains and then trucks and automobiles provided transportation; the burgeoning popularity of pleasure boating after World War II; the hardships besetting the fishing and lumber industries; and the rise of tourism. Duncan's maritime history is a wonderful anecdotal panorama of people land, boats, and water that will absorb historians, nautical enthusiasts, and New Englanders alike. Destined to become a classic, Coastal Maine A Maritime History is