GREENERPASTURE Free Family History Since 1999
Seasonal stories & historical reading

Flag associated with Rockland, Maine, USA History of Rockland, Maine, USA

Journey back in time to Rockland, Maine, USA

Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to Rockland, Maine, USA.

ABOUT THE PLACE

About Rockland

Rockland, Maine, USA - Rockland, Maine, USA - Court House
Rockland: Located in Knox County, Rockland is a lively coastal city known for its art scene, including the Farnsworth Art Museum and the annual Maine Lobster Festival. It’s also a gateway to exploring the islands of Penobscot Bay.

Abenaki Indians called it Catawamteak, meaning "great landing place." In 1767, John Lermond and his two brothers from Warren built a camp to produce oak staves and pine lumber. Thereafter known as Lermond's Cove, it was first settled about 1769. When in 1777 Thomaston was incorporated, Lermond's Cove became a district called Shore village. On July 28, 1848, it was set off as the town of East Thomaston. Renamed Rockland in 1850, it was chartered as a city in 1854.

Rockland developed rapidly because of shipbuilding and lime production. kids.kiddle.co
Source
Have family roots in Rockland?Add your family to this place
MAP
Use Bing Maps to explore this place and its surroundings.
ADVERTISEMENT
VINTAGE ROCKLAND

Rockland Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards

Rockland, Maine, USA - Court House
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Court House
Rockland, Maine, USA - Main Street looking towards Thorndike Hotel, Rockland, Me.
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Main Street looking towards Thorndike Hotel, Rockland, Me.
Rockland, Maine, USA - Tillson's Wharf
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Tillson's Wharf
Rockland, Maine, USA - Main Street Looking North from Park Street
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Main Street Looking North from Park Street
Rockland, Maine, USA - Narragansett Hotel, 1910
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Narragansett Hotel, 1910
Rockland, Maine, USA - Samoset Hotel, Rockland Breakwater, Rockland, Me.
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Samoset Hotel, Rockland Breakwater, Rockland, Me.
Show more vintage photos, ads & postcards
Rockland, Maine, USA - Strand
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Strand
Rockland, Maine, USA - Thorndike Hotel, 1911
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Thorndike Hotel, 1911
Rockland, Maine, USA - Hotel Rockland, Rockland, Me.
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Hotel Rockland, Rockland, Me.
Rockland, Maine, USA - Hospital, 1928
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Hospital, 1928
Rockland, Maine, USA - Main Street
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Main Street
Rockland, Maine, USA - Main St., 1948
Rockland, Maine, USA
Postcard
Pinterest
Main St., 1948
Genealogy gifts & optional resources
OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Genealogy Gifts & Resources Related to ROCKLAND

Buy it NOW!

MAINE Genealogy Mug – My Ancestors Came From Maine – Lobster Rolls, Blueberry Pie and Coastal Heritage – Maine Ancestry Gift

Celebrate your Maine roots with a mug inspired by rugged coastlines, working harbors, wild blueberries, lobster, pine forests, and the storytelling spirit of the Pine Tree State. The “My Ancestors Came From Maine!” mug combines genealogy, local culture, and a little New England humor in a richly illustrated vintage travel-poster design.

MAINE Roots - Genealogy-Themed Ceramic Coffee Mug Gift Idea

Celebrate your deep New England heritage with our "Maine Roots" Genealogy-Themed Ceramic Coffee Mug. Whether you're sipping your morning brew while tracing your family tree or reminiscing about summers on the Maine coast, this mug is the perfect companion for your journey through the branches of your ancestry.
LOCAL HISTORY

Discover Rockland: History, News, Travel, and Stories

Explore the events, newspaper stories, people, and moments that shaped Rockland through the years.

1853 - Destructive Fire at Rockland. FIFTY THREE BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
We learn from Capt. LAMBERT of HODGMAN & Co's. Express, and MR. MITCHELL of LIBBEY'S Express, who came up yesterday in the Penobscot, that a fire broke out in Rockland on Sunday morning at 2 o'clock, in the store of SAM'L. PILLSBURY, which proved very destructive and must be severely felt as it burnt out almost the entire portion of the business part of the town destroying fifty-three buildings and a large amount of goods and other property.

Among the buildings were the Commercial Hotel, kept by N. C. WOODARD, Spofford Block, Holmes brick block, Eagle Block, J. T. & W. BEIRY'S Stage and Livery Stable, DENNIS & THORNDIKE'S Livery Stable.

The fire extended from Spring to Lime Rock street, burning all the buildings on both sides of Main st., together with KIMBALL'S wharf and 1,000,000 feet of lumber belonging to H. G. BERRY.

The hydrants were entirely useless as the water had been shut off at the pond to repair the pipes. The Thomaston engines were on hand and rendered valuable...
Read more
1854 - Rockland
Rockland, (formerly East Thomaston.) a flourishing post-village of Lincoln county, Maine. 40 miles S. E. from Augusta. It has an excellent harbor, and is noted for a superior quality of lime which is obtained in vast quantities from quarries in the vicinity. About half a million casks are exported annually, chiefly in vessels owned in the place. The village contains 3 banks and 1 news paper office. Steamboats plying between Boston and Bangor touch at its wharves. Incorporated in 1848, and includes the peninsula of Owl's Head. Population of the township, 5052.
1869 - Two and a half million barrels of lime are made in Rockland, Maine, each year. It sells for one dollar a barrel.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 12, 1869
1886 - Rockland
Rockland, a city, and the shire town of Knox County, is situated on Rockland Bay, on the western side of Penobscot Bay. Its harbor is enclosed by two headlands, Jameson's Point on the north and the long projection of Thomaston, terminating in Owl's Head, on the south. The city, being located on level land, is better seen from the neighboring headlands and the hills in the rear than from the approaches of the harbor. The surface of the town is rough and broken, low near the shore, but in the western part of the town rising in a chain of hills extending northward from Thomaston, and ending in the Camden mountains. The environs abound in picturesque hill and marine scenery. The north-west is occupied by an extensive meadow. Limestone is the prevailing rock. The soil is generally clay or loam. Among the forest trees the red oak is numerous. The streets of the city proper are extensively shaded with elm and rock-maple. The only considerable sheet of water is Chickawaukie pond, lying partly ...
Read more
1895 - Rockland
Rockland, a city, the capital of Knox co., Me., is situated on the W. shore of Penobscot Bay, about 10 miles from the ocean, and 40 miles E.S.E. of Augusta. It is 49 miles E.N.E. of Bath, with which it is connected by the Knox & Lincoln division of the Maine Central Railroad. Steamboats plying between Boston and Bangor touch at its wharves, and it is the terminus of a dozen steamboat lines connecting with adjacent islands and coastwise towns. Rockland contains 9 churches, a county court-house of brick and granite, costing about $80,000, a granite post office and custom-house erected at a cost of about $175,000, a public library, 3 national banks, a state bank, a savings bank, a system of graded schools, and printing-offices which issue a daily and 3 or 4 weekly newspapers. Water is brought to this city by costly water-works from a lake 9 miles distant. Rockland has an iron-foundry, several machine-shops, a brass-foundry, and numerous lime-kilns, the city being the largest producer of...
Read more
1906
Rockland, a city and port of entry, the capital of Knox co., Me., is situated on the W. shore of Penobscot Bay, about 10 miles from the ocean and 35 miles SE. of Augusta, on the Maine Central R. Steamboats ply between this place and Boston, Bangor, Bar Harbor, and other points of the coast. Rockland has several stately public buildings. Its chief industries are ship-building, lime-burning, and the quarrying of an excellent quality of granite, which has been largely used in different cities of the Union. The lime-kilns give employment to upward of 1000 men. The city is also engaged in the manufacture of iron and brass goods, machinery, axe-handles, stone-cutting tools, etc. Pop. in 1900, 8150.
1910 - Maine Man Killed by Falling Down Stairs
Rockland, Me., Dec. 25 - Milkmen found the body of Charles A. Arnold lying at the foot of the stairs leading to his boarding place this morning. Arnold is supposed to have been killed by falling down the stairs. Alvin Arnold, a brother of the dead man was found apparently in a stupor in the room occupied by the brothers. An inquest will be held to determine the exact cause of death.
Boston Journal
Boston, Massachusetts
December 26, 1910
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Rockland:
Main Street and Harbor Park:

Stroll along Main Street, lined with unique shops, galleries, and cafes.
Explore Harbor Park for scenic views of the harbor and Penobscot Bay.

Maine Lighthouse Museum:

Discover the maritime history of the region through exhibits, artifacts, and models of lighthouses at this museum.

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse:

Take a walk along the iconic breakwater to reach the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. The views of the bay are spectacular.

Owls Head Transportation Museum:

Just a short drive from Rockland, this museum showcases a fascinating collection of antique automobiles, airplanes, and more.

Farnsworth Art Museum:

Explore American art, including works by Maine artists such as Andrew Wyeth, at this renowned museum in the heart of Rockland.

Rockland Harbor Trail:

Enjoy a scenic walk along the harbor trail, offering beautiful views of the water and the town.

Sail on a Schooner:

Experience the beauty of Penobscot Bay by...
Read more
GENEALOGY IN ROCKLAND

Discover YOUR Roots: Rockland Ancestry

Explore ancestors connected to Rockland through births, deaths, marriages, cemeteries, and local genealogy resources.

BIRTHS & DEATHS

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Rockland, Maine, USA

We currently have information about 8 ancestors who were born or died in Rockland.

View ancestors by year of birth
MARRIAGES

Ancestors Who Were Married in Rockland, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Rockland.

View married ancestors
Updated: 2/6/2025 4:19:28 PM
COMMUNITY

Discussion & Local Contributions

Share corrections, memories, local history, or family connections that may help other researchers.

Back to topSearch this place again