# I need a town in Maine with a pre-revolution map **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159 "2016-08-08T17:47:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/1 "2016-08-08T17:47:39Z")
I’m about to start a new D&D campaign. But it’s set in 1959 and some year before the Revolutionary War. To that end I need to find a town in Maine - preferably not too big - where I can get maps from 1959 and before the war. Anyone have any guidance? ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/2 "2016-08-08T18:12:04Z")
Wiki-surf “maine” and “revolutionary” and see what comes up as far as small towns. Then google the town and see if there’s a local library or historical society. Check their websites for maps online, and if there aren’t any, there should be a “contact us” email or phone number. Get in touch and ask for their earliest town map. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/3 "2016-08-08T18:23:59Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I’m about to start a new D&D campaign. But it’s set in 1959 and some year before the Revolutionary War. > > To that end I need to find a town in Maine - preferably not too big - where I can get maps from 1959 and before the war. Anyone have any guidance? Shouldn’t be hard to find a pre-Revolutionary map – all of the creepy small towns in Maine are still owned by King. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/4 "2016-08-08T18:33:37Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Shouldn’t be hard to find a pre-Revolutionary map – all of the creepy small towns in Maine are still owned by King. \ ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/5 "2016-08-08T18:37:38Z")
wasn’t maine part of one of the other colonies until 1819 or so ? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/6 "2016-08-08T18:39:21Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > wasn’t maine part of one of the other colonies until 1819 or so ? 1. Maine used to be part of Massachusetts. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/7 "2016-08-08T18:41:28Z")
I’ve seen fairly detailed maps of York, ME, Falmouth, ME and Wells, ME in local libraries as wall decor. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/8 "2016-08-08T20:44:42Z")
Here’s one for Falmouth harbor, 1776. You can print from the image. I have before. > **[Historic World Maps for Sale: Prints & Images: Historic Map Works,...](https://historicmapworks.com)** > > Historic Map Works is the world's largest source for old, historic, antique world maps, charts & residential genealogy. Order custom prints or download images. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/9 "2016-08-09T00:24:22Z")
I recommend Castine. It’s way down east, not far from Blue Hill. A beautiful small town, a great port (some sort of Marine Academy has been based there for a long time), and very rich in historical event. It’s full of fascinating historical markers that say things like “Here the Native American Bloodthirst tribe cut the ears and noses off two hundred and seventeen French prisoners.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/10 "2016-08-09T00:35:38Z")
Okay, it’s the Maine Marine Academy. And I misremembered…the historical marker was about an Englishman and boy who were tortured by natives and forced to eat their own ears and noses before being burned at the stake. The actual sign is pictured on the wiki site. > **[Castine, Maine](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castine,_Maine)** > > Castine (/kæsˈtiːn/ kas-TEEN) is a town in Hancock County in eastern Maine. The population was 1,320 at the 2020 census. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, a four-year institution that graduates officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and marine related industries. Approximately 1000 students are enrolled. During the French colonial period, Castine was the southern tip of Acadia and served as the regional capital between 1670 and 1674. > During the 17th and early 1... “Hey kid, would you pass the ketchup?” If God had to pick a Maine town to use in a game, you can bet it would be Castine… The Pentagoet Inn was one of the first B&Bs I stayed in, back in the early '80s. Also, great seafood down at Dennet’s Wharf. Try the raw sea urchin! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/11 "2016-08-09T01:18:50Z")
**^** Do you think it’s significant that Don “American Pie” McLean lives there? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/12 "2016-08-09T04:14:57Z")
[https://www.vintagemaineimages.com/search/more?keywords=Maps&store\_page\_size=36&active\_tab=store](https://www.vintagemaineimages.com/search/more?keywords=Maps&store_page_size=36&active_tab=store) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/13 "2016-08-09T20:38:10Z")
Here is a web site I use often in my research. This link is to the Maine index. Pick a city directly, or pick any county and there will be maps of all the townships and cities for various years. > **[Historic World Maps for Sale: Prints & Images: Historic Map Works,...](https://historicmapworks.com)** > > Historic Map Works is the world's largest source for old, historic, antique world maps, charts & residential genealogy. Order custom prints or download images. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/14 "2016-08-10T15:19:01Z")
Try your local public library or local history museum. The local library in the nearest city has an extensive collection of historical maps of the area from the 1700’s to the early 1900’s, and the museum has another collection. Even if you can’t score a map at one of these locations, they should be able to steer you in the right direction on who might have one. There might be a map in a local public school, police station, or maybe even the mayor’s office that you can go view and take notes from. Sometimes courts hold important local documents, so a call to your local courthouse might also be a good idea. Also, +1 for the OP for wanting to do research rather than just making stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/15 "2016-08-10T19:45:40Z")
I count 33 towns that were organized (i.e., incorporated) before 1776. They were generally settled several years before being organized. The situation is complicated by mergers, secession, renaming, etc. For example, Portland isn’t listed because it was part of Falmouth until 1786. Here’s a [map of the Maine coast](http://www.oshermaps.org/search/zoom.php?no=12838.0001#img0) and some distance inland from Cape Elizabeth to Searsport published in April 1776. It includes the modern towns/cities of Portland, Augusta, Lewiston, Auburn, Waterville, Brunswick, Rockland, Belfast, and many smaller towns. Unfortunately, the settlements are not always labeled according to their modern names on that map. Each square on the map (best visible at maximum zoom) represents one building. Note how few roads there are, especially once you get more than a mile or so from the coast. Inland almost all the houses are directly on navigable rivers. This map is from the Osher Map Library which also has other colonial-era digital maps of Maine available online but none I noticed with this level of detail. 1652 Kittery 1652 York 1653 Kennebunkport 1653 Wells 1658 Scarborough 1716 Berwick 1716 Georgetown 1718 Biddeford 1718 Falmouth 1732 North Yarmouth 1739 Brunswick 1753 Newcastle 1758 Harpswell 1759 Woolwich 1760 Wiscasset 1762 Bowdoinham 1762 Buxton 1762 Saco 1762 Windham 1764 Boothbay 1764 Gorham 1764 Topsham 1765 Bristol 1765 Cape Elizabeth 1767 Lebanon 1768 Sanford 1771 Hallowell 1771 Vassalboro 1771 Winslow 1771 Winthrop 1773 Belfast 1773 Waldoboro 1774 New Gloucester Maps from the 1950s are easier to find with the [Historical USGS map explorer](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjg7LelzbfOAhXFWBQKHRDBBMAQFggpMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhistoricalmaps.arcgis.com%2Fusgs%2F&usg=AFQjCNHsYtuwy1tkN9g0zmMk58FWdWuZCw&sig2=MwpvPS4jFFJFIpKXuGT5Wg) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-town-in-maine-with-a-pre-revolution-map/762159/16 "2016-08-10T19:56:34Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > …Lewiston, Auburn… That map depicts the area now occupied by Lewiston and Auburn, which were settled a few years before the map was published. The map, however, does not depict any buildings in that area.