Eagle Island (Casco Bay, Maine) facts for kids
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Eagle Island
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Harpswell, Maine |
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| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Built | 1904 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000069 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | August 25, 2014 |
Eagle Island is a special island in Maine's beautiful Casco Bay. It was once the home of a famous polar explorer named Admiral Robert Peary. He was known for his trips to the North Pole. Today, the island and his home are protected as the Eagle Island State Historic Site. It's a great place to learn about history and nature!
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History of Eagle Island
Admiral Robert Peary was a brave explorer. He was famous for his expeditions to the North Pole. Peary bought Eagle Island in 1881. He retired to his island home in 1911. This was after he became very well-known for his Arctic adventures.
Peary's family continued to live in the house for many years. In 1967, they gave the property to the people of Maine. This made it a state historic site. Eagle Island was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This list includes important historical places in the United States. Later, in 2014, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place of national importance.
Exploring Eagle Island
The Island's Location and Features
Eagle Island is part of the town of Harpswell, Maine. It is located in Cumberland County, Maine. The island is about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Portland, Maine. It is a 17-acre (6.9 ha) island. Eagle Island is in the outer part of the many islands that make up Casco Bay.
The island is rocky. It has a thin layer of topsoil. Most of the island is covered with evergreen trees and bushes. There are trails that let visitors explore most of the island. Admiral Peary bought this island in 1881.
At the northern end of the island, there is an open area. This is where the site's buildings are located. There is also a small beach area. A long wooden pier stretches out into the water. This pier was built in 1969.
Buildings on the Island
There are three main buildings on Eagle Island. These are the Peary house, a caretaker's cabin, and a visitors center. The visitors center was built more recently, in 2012. Mrs. Peary planted beautiful gardens on the island. Park staff still take care of these gardens today.
The Peary House
The Peary House is made of wood. It was built in different stages over time. The first part of the house was built in 1904. It had a large living room downstairs. There were three bedrooms upstairs. Meals were first made in the caretaker's house.
In 1906, a small kitchen and dining area were added. A new stone foundation was also built. This raised the house higher. Shed-roof dormers were added to the roof. After he retired, Peary made the house even bigger. This happened in 1912 and 1913. The old kitchen wing was moved. A new, larger wing was added with a porch on three sides.
Peary also built two round stone towers. These towers helped hold the house in place. They kept it safe from strong winds during storms. One of these towers was used by Peary. He kept his collection of artifacts from his many expeditions there.
After Peary passed away in 1920, his family made only small changes to the house. They gave the property to the state of Maine in 1967. The state built the pier. They also worked to fix up the property. The house had been damaged by the weather over time. In 1990, part of the Peary house roof fell in. This caused water damage to Peary's study. That part of the house had to be rebuilt.
