Where to see Revolutionary War history across Maine
MACHIAS, Maine — As the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence, Maine offers a unique window into the Revolutionary War era—a time when this land was not yet a state but played a pivotal role in the fight for liberty.
From the site of one of the war's earliest naval battles to the birthplace of a Declaration signer, the Pine Tree State holds a rich tapestry of revolutionary history waiting to be explored.
Burnham Tavern: Where Revolution Took Root
In the coastal town of Machias, a yellow house standing sentinel on Colonial Way marks the location where American independence found one of its first military voices. Built in 1770 by Job and Mary Burnham, the Burnham Tavern served as the gathering place for local patriots who would orchestrate a bold act of rebellion.
In June 1775, tensions escalated when residents planned to capture British Midshipman James Moore while he attended church. The resulting battle left Moore wounded and resulted in the seizure of the British ship Margaretta—the first naval engagement of the American Revolution. The tavern's tap room transformed into a makeshift hospital for the wounded.
Today, the Burnham Tavern Museum preserves artifacts from that pivotal confrontation while offering insight into daily colonial life. The Hannah Weston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has maintained the site since 1910, and in 1973, it received National Historic Site designation. Notably, it was selected in 1974 as one of only 21 homes in the nation with the greatest significance to the American Revolution—and the only one in Maine.
Jeremiah O'Brien, whose preserved house now sits on the University of Maine at Machias campus, was among the vocal advocates for aggressive action against British authority.
The museum operates from July through September, offering guided tours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, though donations of $5 for adults and $2 for students are encouraged.
Fort George: A Strategic Prize
Further down the coast in Castine, Fort George stands as testament to the fierce competition for control of midcoast Maine. Originally constructed by the British in 1779 during the Penobscot Expedition—a failed Massachusetts-organized campaign to retake the region—the fort was renamed in honor of King George III.
The British envisioned establishing a colony called New Ireland from this strategic location near the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers. The fort became the focal of prolonged disputes among the English, French, Native Americans, and colonists. British forces reoccupied the fort during the War of 1812 before abandoning it for the final time in 1815.
After the war, Castine residents salvaged building materials for use throughout the town. The state acquired the land and remains in 1940. The nearly 5-acre site at 7 Wadsworth Cove Road was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
Old Fort Western: Gateway to Quebec
In Augusta, the state's capital, a wooden fortress on the banks of the Kennebec River offers visitors a rare glimpse into military architecture of revolutionary times. Fort Western, constructed in July 1754 as part of a supply route during the French and Indian War, served as an unloading point for goods destined for British troops.
The fort became militarily obsolete by 1767 and was decommissioned that year. However, it found new purpose in September 1775 when General George Washington dispatched Benedict Arnold and 1,100 Continental soldiers from the fort on a grueling 350-mile march through the Maine wilderness to attack Quebec City. Among Arnold's company were Daniel Morgan and Aaron Burr, who gathered supplies and weapons before the ultimately unsuccessful assault on the Canadian city.
The Howard family purchased the fort for $500 in 1767 and operated a store there for 40 years. Descendants lived in the garrison until the 1850s, after which it became tenement housing for mill workers. In 1919, the city of Augusta acquired the property, and in 1922, it opened as a museum following renovation by William H. and Guy P. Gannett. The fort achieved National Historic Landmark status in 1976.
The fort's blockhouse stands among the oldest surviving French and Indian War-era wooden structures in the country. It is open daily through July and August, with special Fourth of July events scheduled as part of America's 250th Celebration.
Knox Museum: Washington's Right Hand
In Thomaston, the Knox Museum commemorates Henry Knox, a Boston bookshop owner who was just 25 when he joined the Revolutionary cause. Knox became George Washington's close confidant, standing beside him during the crossing of the Delaware River and eventually serving as his secretary of war.
Knox played crucial roles at Fort Ticonderoga and other pivotal battles. After the war, he and his wife Lucy began construction on their grand estate, Montpelier, along the St. George River in 1794. The house, built as a gift for Lucy, fell into ruin after Knox's death in 1806 and was eventually razed in 1871 to make way for a railroad.
Boston architect George Putnam helped reconstruct Montpelier in 1929, and the museum opened the following year at 30 High St. The museum offers tours Tuesday through Saturday during summer months, with special events including concerts, tea parties, and Knox's birthday celebration on July 25.
Thornton Homestead: Birthplace of a Signer
A stone marker on Rossmore Road in Brunswick commemorates the 1714 birthplace of Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Native Americans burned the family home in 1722 when Thornton was 8 years old, prompting the family to relocate to Worcester, Massachusetts. Thornton went on to become a prominent New Hampshire politician and lived to age 89.
While some debate exists about whether the marker denotes the exact location of the original homestead, the Daughters of the American Revolution have identified this spot as the precise location where the house once stood.
The Burning of Falmouth Neck
On October 18, 1775, British Captain Henry Mowat sailed into Casco Bay and delivered a devastating ultimatum to the town of Falmouth, present-day Portland. With the Revolutionary War just six months old, the British Navy sought to make an example of towns harboring patriotic sentiment.
Local militiamen prevented residents from surrendering their weapons and pledging loyalty to the crown. The following morning, after a nine-hour bombardment, Mowat reduced the town to ashes.
George Washington subsequently described the destruction as "an outrage," and the burning galvanized revolutionary sentiment throughout the colonies. Today, the event is commemorated through historical markers and exhibits, including extensive collections at the Maine Historical Society Museum at 489 Congress St.
Several historic sites connected to the bombardment remain accessible. First Parish Church at 425 Congress St. was rebuilt in 1826, but the original structure dates to 1740. Known as "Old Jerusalem," it survived the British attack despite its wooden construction—cannonballs were discovered in the walls during demolition in the early 1800s. Eastern Cemetery, opened in 1668 as Portland's oldest graveyard, offers walking tours through the Spirits Alive organization that incorporate the bombardment into historical narratives.
Pathways to Freedom: A Statewide Exhibition
The Maine Historical Society is hosting major programming throughout 2026 to mark the semiquincentennial. The exhibition "Pathways to Freedom: Maine Stories of the American Revolution" explores the conflict through the lens of key Maine moments, examining how geography, natural resources, and the contested border with British-controlled Canada shaped the struggle for independence.
The exhibit features the stories of six real-life "Pathfinders"—illustrated by Penobscot artist Shannon Sockalexis—who navigated the war as Patriots, Loyalists, Native Americans, and colonists in various ways. Their stories are anchored by four pivotal events: the Battle of the Margaretta, Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec, the Burning of Falmouth, and the Penobscot Expedition.
As part of the commemoration, one of only 26 surviving copies of the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence will travel to all 16 Maine counties from July through October 2026, with public visitations, community celebrations, and special events at each stop.
