A Walk Through Two Wars

with Julia Gray and Lisa Simpson Lutts from the Wilson Museum and Castine Historical Society

Saturday, May 6 at 10:00 AM

Estimated duration: 90 minutes

This walk through Castine’s beautiful Witherle Woods (a Maine Coast Heritage Trust property) will be a teaser for a new walking and driving tour around Castine (due out later this year) that explores how two wars fought between Great Britain and America— the American Revolution (1775-1883) and the War of 1812 (1812-1815)—impacted our town and the nation. As you take the tour, you will come to understand why a seemingly remote coastal town in what would become the state of Maine was a desirable location for military fortifications and the scene of an important battle. While Witherle Woods is peaceful today, it was the site of a violent battle in 1779 and a less dramatic occupation in 1814. Evidence of both conflicts remains across the landscape, and the views from various lookouts offer a wider context for the local impact of these two wars. The walk will be co-led by the directors of the Castine Historical Society and Wilson Museum. For this roughly 2.2 mile walk, make sure you are prepared for uneven trail surfaces, ticks, mosquitos, and black flies. We recommend sturdy walking/hiking shoes, long pants, along with water, sunscreen, and bug spray. This area is prime habitat for deer ticks which are known vectors of Lyme’s disease—make sure to conduct a thorough tick check at the end of your visit. On-leash dogs are welcome on the walk, and MCHT asks you to stay on the trail and carry out any trash. To find more information about MCHT or Witherle Woods, please visit mcht.org.

Accessibility: This walk follows uneven, wooded trails and is not ideal for people with mobility challenges. There will be options for participants to shorten their walk at a couple of trail intersections. There is no regular public transportation to Witherle Woods, but there is plenty of space for bike parking.

Starting and ending point: Witherle Woods Preserve parking lot

 

For questions about this walk, please email janeswalkme@gmail.com.