Monhegan Island

Welcome to Monhegan Island

During the summer months, the island attracts both artists and tourists. Visitors disembark at the ferry landing or on a village beach within the precinct. Our Balmy Days II was built especially for the trip to Monhegan Island. She can carry 130 passengers.

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Boothbay Parking

A Brief History

The name Monhegan is a corruption of Monchiggon, the Abenaki language term for “out-to-sea island” used by Samoset, an Abenaki sagamore and the first Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony, in his early contacts with the English. The island got its start as a British fishing camp prior to settlement of the Plymouth Colony. Cod was harvested from the rich fishing grounds of the Gulf of Maine, then dried on fish flakes before shipment to Europe. A trading post was built to conduct business with the Indians, particularly in the lucrative fur trade.

Incorporated

Sq. Mi

Population (2020)

Things to Do

The village itself boasts a church, private residences, hotels, art studios, rentable homes, and a handful of small stores, including one specializing in fresh fish and lobster. While much of Monhegan remains uninhabited, it offers 17 miles (27 km) of hiking trails for exploration, leading to elevated cliffs with breathtaking views of the sea. Inland pathways wind through wooded areas, such as the Cathedral Woods. A unique tradition involves crafting miniature “fairy houses” from found materials in Cathedral Woods and other locations.