9.10.2018

Visiting Bailey Island, Maine

[Photos taken on three days in July 2016, December 2017, and July 2018]

When in Maine (along Maine’s “mid-coast”) we frequently drive south from Brunswick to explore many of the little fingers of land that protrude into the Atlantic Ocean, more specifically into Casco Bay.  One such “finger” is made up of two islands that are attached by bridges.  The first is Orr’s Island and the second is Bailey Island.

This photo was taken at the end of Orr's Island, just before
the Bailey Island Bridge

H2O Outfitters.  On Orr's Island, next to the bridge



The bridge that connects Orr’s to Bailey was built in 1928.  It is called simply Bailey Island Bridge; but it is far from a simple bridge.  It is what is know as a cobweb or cribstone bridge, and is said to be the only such bridge in the world. It is made with slabs of local (Yarmouth, Maine) granite.  The unique design of laying the slabs in a stacked and criss-cross pattern gives support while at the same time allowing tides to rush through the entire 1,150 foot length of the bridge. I have read that 10,000 tons of granite were used in the construction.

The four photos below were taken from the property of Cook’s Lobster House. In the first two images you can see the Bailey Island Bridge in the background, with the granite slabs stacked like Lincoln Logs.







Two popular photo opportunities I have found are (1) The Nubble, a bait house adorned with lobster buoys, and 

The Nubble

(2) Mackerel Cove.  We’ve enjoyed picnic lunches at Mackerel Cove in a small park next to the water.  However, as nice as a picnic can be, it is sometimes difficult to pass up Cook’s Lobster House where the fish and lobster cannot be any fresher.






At the very end of the island the road comes to a dead end at a large gift shop and parking lot.  It’s a nice place to walk along the rocks and see the view.  This bronze statue, called The Lobsterman, is a replica of one created for the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.  There are several replicas elsewhere, and I have seen one in Portland, Maine.


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