Popham ColonyAbout Popham Colony
Popham Colony was an English colonial settlement established at the mouth of the Kennebec River in what is now Phippsburg, Maine in 1607. It represents one of the earliest English attempts to found a permanent presence in New England.
Colonists constructed a small seagoing pinnace known as the Virginia while at the site; the settlement faced supply difficulties and leadership setbacks and was abandoned by 1608. The short-lived colony is chiefly remembered for the Virginia and for its place in early English colonial efforts.
Archaeological remains of the settlement have been investigated and the site is interpreted for visitors with signage and displays that explain the colony’s foundations and excavated features. The location lies on the Atlantic coast at the Kennebec River mouth and is near other historic coastal forts and sites.
The Popham Colony site sits on Maine’s southern coast at the Kennebec River entrance near Phippsburg, roughly 40 miles northeast of the Portland metropolitan area by road.
- Founding and abandonment: Established in 1607 as one of England’s earliest attempts at a permanent North American colony, it was abandoned by 1608.
- Visitor information: Archaeological traces and interpretive signage mark the site today; the early pinnace built by the colonists is a central element of the site’s history and public interpretation.
What to See#
- Colony archaeological area: Contains the primary archaeological footprint of the 1607-1608 colony where foundation trenches and artifact concentrations have been recorded and interpreted by archaeologists.
- Virginia pinnace association: Site associated with the pinnace Virginia, which colonists built locally in 1607-1608 and which is often referenced in interpretive displays and reconstructions about the settlement.
Best Time to Visit Popham Colony
Best visited late spring through early autumn for access and comfortable weather; check seasonal opening times.
Weather & Climate near Popham Colony
Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1157 mm/year), wettest in November, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -9° - 0° | -11° | 94 mm | overcast | 91% | 5.4 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| February | Poor | -8° - 1° | -10° | 86 mm | partly cloudy | 91% | 5.5 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.3h |
| March | Poor | -3° - 5° | -4° | 103 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 5.4 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 2° - 10° | 3° | 104 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 5.1 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.3h |
| May | Good | 7° - 16° | 12° | 97 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 14.5h |
| June | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 87 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 4.2 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.2h |
| July | Excellent | 15° - 25° | 20° | 77 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 1.8 very high | 14.9h |
| August | Excellent | 15° - 24° | 19° | 83 mm | some cloud | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 1.5 very high | 13.8h |
| September | Very Good | 11° - 19° | 15° | 85 mm | some cloud | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 5° - 14° | 7° | 100 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.7 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.9h |
| November | Poor | 1° - 8° | 1° | 123 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 5.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| December | Poor | -6° - 3° | -7° | 118 mm | overcast | 89% | 5.5 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
How to Get to Popham Colony
By car: Popham Beach and the Popham Colony site are reached via ME‑209 and local roads from Bath or Portland. The nearest larger city is Portland (roughly 1-1.5 hour drive). Check the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands or Maine state parks website for seasonal opening and parking information.
Tips for Visiting Popham Colony
- Visit on a weekday in late spring for fewer crowds and better parking at the site near Phippsburg.
- Bring insect repellent - coastal Maine in summer can be buggy, especially near salt marshes.
- Read contemporary accounts of the 1607 colony (e.g., Captain George Popham's letters) before going to appreciate how quickly the settlement was abandoned.