About this city
Also known as: The Cradle of New World Shipbuilding
Occupying a rugged, pine-forested peninsula at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Sagadahoc County, Phippsburg is an expansive coastal town steeped in foundational American history. Settled in the early 17th century, it is the historic site of the 1607 Popham Colony, where English settlers established the first European colony in New England and famously constructed the 'Virginia of Sagadahoc,' the first ocean-going vessel built in the New World. Phippsburg's economy has been tied for centuries to wooden shipbuilding, stone quarrying, and commercial saltwater fishing. Today, the town remains a remarkably preserved, uncommercialized coastal sanctuary defined by sweeping sandy barrier beaches, tidal salt marshes, and historic stone military battlements that guard the river shipping lanes.
Location & Administrative
Transportation & Accessibility
Weather & Timing
Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Sunbathe, surf, or walk the expansive sandy crescent paths at Popham Beach State Park. Explore the massive granite artillery casemates and historic tunnels at Civil War-era Fort Popham. Hike the scenic, forested rocky trails leading to the panoramic overlooks of Bates-Morse Mountain.