The Castine Historical Society, located in the Abbott School and Samuel P. Grindle House on the town common, is a 501(c)3 organization that serves as a window into Castine’s extraordinary past. Our permanent and summer exhibitions, lectures, house and garden tours and historic reenactments would not occur without the energy and dedication of our many volunteers and members.

Book Signing with Historian and Author Lynn Parsons. Season opening, 2013.Although officially founded in 1966, previous incarnations of the organization have been recorded as early as 1865. Sharing a common desire to document Castine history, all of these organizations have been a part of creating the mission and vision of the Castine Historical Society as it exists today.

Our collections include a wide variety of photographs, documents, artifacts, maps, essays, research notes, books, publications and paintings documenting the historical development of Castine and the surrounding area. The collections are available to the public for research throughout the year.

The Castine Historical Society Collections Committee welcomes the donation of artifacts, historical records and memorabilia related to Castine and the surrounding area in support of our mission to illuminate the rich history of the Castine and Bagaduce River area.