WISCASSET — On Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10 a.m., Wiscasset's Museum in the Streets Committee will offer Boom to Bust and Back Again, a free walking tour held as part of the global Jane’s Walk festival of free volunteer-led walking tours. The tour begins at Castle Tucker and winds its way through the heart of historic Wiscasset, concluding at the town’s scenic waterfront.

Led by Peggy Konitzky, Midcoast Maine site manager for Historic New England, and Shannon Gilmore, executive director of the Lincoln County Historical Association, the walk offers an informative stroll through Wiscasset’s fascinating past. Both guides are members of the Wiscasset Museum in the Streets Committee and will use several of the interpretive panels from the Museum in the Streets installation as storytelling touch points along the route.

Participants will explore the evolution of Wiscasset from a booming international seaport — once the busiest north of Boston — to the economic downturn caused by President Jefferson’s Embargo of 1807, which abruptly halted trade and sent the town into decline. Despite the bust, Wiscasset endured. By 1900, it had become known as a popular summer destination, drawing visitors with its appealing Federal-style architecture and coastal Maine location and eventually earning its current reputation as a thriving cultural and historic destination with shops, restaurants, and a welcoming community.

The walk will proceed down historic High Street to the Wiscasset Common, continue along Main Street, and conclude at the waterfront. Participants should be prepared to walk approximately half a mile along sidewalks, which include some hills and uneven surfaces. At the end of the tour, guests are encouraged to explore downtown Wiscasset’s shops and restaurants at their leisure. Please note: participants will be responsible for returning to their vehicles on their own.

Jane’s Walk is an annual international celebration of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by urbanist and community advocate Jane Jacobs. These walks connect people with the places they live through local history, personal insight, and civic engagement.

The Wiscasset Museum in the Streets is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to sharing the town’s history through outdoor exhibits. Museum in the Streets® is a registered and protected trademark.

EVENT DETAILS:
What: Jane’s Walk – Boom to Bust and Back Again: Wiscasset’s Museum in the Streets
When: Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Meet at Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Maine
Cost: Free and open to all