Brunswick

The Ideal Place to Retire

Brunswick, Maine has received national recognition as an ideal place to retire

With its storied past and vibrant present, Brunswick has received national recognition as an ideal place to retire from Money, Smithsonian, The Wall Street Journal, Where to Retire, CNN Money, MSN News, and more.

Brunswick is a coastal town steeped in history and charm, with plentiful activities for all ages. It boasts one of the best year-round farmers’ markets in Maine, and is home to a wide variety of artisanal restaurants. An Amtrak Station is just steps from downtown, and 5 minutes from Thornton Oaks. Waterfront walking trails are also a 5-minute drive in the other direction, in neighboring Harpswell.

Notable History of Brunswick

Brunswick, settled in 1628, is rich in American history. The landmark First Parish Church presides at the top of the village green, which is lined by mansions built in the Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate styles. In 2016, the Brunswick Commercial Historic District was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Thornton family were early settlers in Brunswick (c.1717) and Thornton Oaks is named for Matthew Thornton, the final signer of the Declaration of Independence.

At Brunswick’s picturesque center is Bowdoin College, founded in 1794. Bowdoin boasts many illustrious alumni, among them Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathanial Hawthorne, and General Joshua Chamberlain, who also served as the college’s president. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin in a house on Federal Street while her husband, Calvin Stowe, taught at Bowdoin. More recent graduates include Maine statesmen, George Mitchell and William Cohen.

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