A Brief History of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

After 16 years of planning, planting, and building, the grand opening of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens was celebrated on June 13, 2007. This ambitious project began in 1991 when a group of mid-coast Maine residents founded the grassroots organization. They, and those who worked with them and came after them, shared the belief that northern New England in general, and Maine in particular, were in need of a botanical garden.

Today Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens comprises 295 acres of tidal shoreland and in 2016 welcomed nearly 190,000 guests.  Construction of a new Visitor Center and expanded display gardens began in January 2017.

The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education and research.