50% off for same-day replay
10% off for seniors (65+)
10% off for active duty military
10% off for Dune passholders
20% off for groups of 20 or more
50% off for Snap/EBT/WIC/Mainecase program partipants
Discounts
Step back in time: discover Maine geology and history at an iconic coastal landmark
At the turn of the 20th century, the Maine landscape was dotted with abandoned farms, especially in coastal regions like Freeport. In the wake of monumental changes to agricultural life as everyone had known it for centuries, the Desert of Maine became a part of the modernizing tourist industry, as former farm families turned their skills and adaptability towards capturing a new middle class tourist. Brand new highway and assembly-line Model-Ts made it possible for tens of thousands of people in the 20s and 30s to see this abandoned farm anew, as a place of wonder.
Watch Maine history and geology collide in the dunes
115,00 thousand years at the Desert of Maine…
from glaciers to live camels.
The Desert of Maine is a fascinating intersection of Maine geology and history, beginning tens of thousands of years ago when retreating glaciers deposited a deep layer of sand. This hidden geological feature remained undisturbed until the 1800s, when the Tuttle family established a successful homestead on the site. However, decades of intensive farming and sheep grazing eventually stripped the topsoil, revealing the glacial sand dunes beneath. By the mid-1800s, patches of sand began to appear, eventually forcing the family to abandon the farm and leave behind a transformed landscape.
For nearly 100 years, this hidden gem has served as one of the most unique natural attractions in New England, evolving from a local curiosity into an iconic Maine tourist attraction. Today, the site offers an immersive look at eco-tourism in Maine, where visitors can explore the dunes that once buried orchards and barns. It stands as a premier Maine road trip stop and an educational attraction in Maine, teaching the science of soil erosion and the resilience of nature through the lens of one of the most unusual places in Maine.
A century of wonder: historic landscapes and 19th-century heritage
Explore the rich Maine geology and history of an iconic tourist attraction through our archival collection. From the historical farmhouse museum to the early days of this iconic Maine tourist attraction, these images capture how the glacial sand dunes transformed from a local curiosity into one of the most unique places in Maine. Discover the story behind this hidden gem and see why it has been a staple of eco-tourism in Maine for nearly 100 years.
Historic Tuttle Farmhouse Documentary
by Adam Bedient
This short documentary follows the remarkable journey of the historic farmhouse: from Ken Sevene's painstaking board-by-board dismantling of a 18th century classic cape, to the master craftspeople at Preservation Timbers who reassembled it using the same methods and materials as the original builders would have used nearly 250 years ago.
Clint Harp, award-winning carpenter, HGTV hit show Fixer Upper alum, and host of Restoration Road, heads to the Desert of Maine. He takes on a challenge: to transport, rebuild and assemble our 18th century New England Cape Cod house as a historical museum.
“It’s a place unlike any other in Maine,” reports NBC’s News Center Maine. “Acres of fine sand stretches out into the distance, complete with sand dunes, looking much like, well, a miniature desert. Welcome to the Desert of Maine, an ecological oddity that’s been a tourist attraction for a century.”
Our re-opening made a splash in the local papers. The Press Herald got an exclusive: how we launched The Desert of Maine, reopening with new attractions and a focus on sciences. They also chronicle the unveiling of our nonprofit to promote arts and sciences.
Explore the Desert of Maine through the lens of journalists and ecologists alike
Learn about how nature heals
We are thrilled to have collaborated with ecologist Deborah Perkins on our Ecology Walk and its accompanying Field Guide, available online as a PDF download or in our Welcome Center gift shop.
The Center for arts and Ecology website features an extended excerpt from the Field Guide plus audio clips of Perkins talking about some of her favorite spots around the Desert.
Clint Harp, award-winning carpenter, HGTV hit show Fixer Upper alum, and host of Restoration Road, heads to the Desert of Maine. He takes on a challenge: to transport, rebuild and assemble our 18th century New England Cape Cod house as a historical museum.
“It’s a place unlike any other in Maine,” reports NBC’s News Center Maine. “Acres of fine sand stretches out into the distance, complete with sand dunes, looking much like, well, a miniature desert. Welcome to the Desert of Maine, an ecological oddity that’s been a tourist attraction for a century.”
Our re-opening made a splash in the local papers. The Press Herald got an exclusive: how we launched The Desert of Maine, reopening with new attractions and a focus on sciences. They also chronicle the unveiling of our nonprofit to promote arts and sciences.
Explore the Desert of Maine through the lens of journalists and ecologists alike