THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OF WELLS AND OGUNQUIT
PRESERVING THE PAST FOR TWO MAINE TOWNS
Honoring the many men and women of Wells and Ogunquit who have served their country.
One of the many beautiful ceremonies that have taken place in our Meetinghouse.
Always something to interest the youngest historians!
Honoring the many men and women of Wells and Ogunquit who have served their country.
Welcome!
Friends, THANK YOU for visiting our website. Our museum and library are open for the season and we would love to welcome you for a visit! Please see our hours at the bottom of the page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Women of '76:
A One-Woman Show
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Grant Common, Ogunquit
Details Coming Soon
Step into the untold story of the American Revolution as actress and playwright Rita Parisi portrays five women who witnessed, chronicled and, in some cases, changed the course of the Revolution. Click here for more information.
Declaration of Independence:
A Public Reading
Summer 2026
Date and Time TBA
Join us for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, with details coming soon!
The Last, Best Hope:
The 250-Year Struggle for the American Experiment
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
At the Meetinghouse
Journalist and Pulitzer-nominated author Colin Woodard will present The Last Best Hope, the story of our epic 250-year struggle to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. Click here for details.
Those Damned Yankees!
Fall 2026
At the Meetinghouse
Details Coming Soon
We are thrilled to welcome author and Wells High School alumnus Ray Deptula to talk about his two-book historical fiction series Damned Yankees. Mr. Deptula skillfully blends a riveting narrative of the Revolutionary War with a compelling personal story. Click here for more.
Woodies in the Cove
Car Show
Saturday, August 8, 2026
8:30 am to 2:00 pm
974 Post Road (US Rt 1), Wells
Don't miss the annual Woodies in the Cove car show, our biggest fundraiser of the year! The show starts at 8:30 am at 974 Post Road (US Route 1) in Wells, followed by a Woodies parade at 2 pm through Wells and Ogunquit and into Perkins Cove. Admission is free for spectators. Visit our Woodies in the Cove page for more details.
America at 250: Wells & Ogunquit During the Revolution
This year marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, and we are commemorating this moment in American history by exploring the Revolutionary War experience in Maine. Through our upcoming special exhibit, historical vignettes, and public programs, we will illustrate local experiences and delve further into the American story.
Diary of the Revolution:
The John Littlefield Journal
Special Exhibit - April to December 2026
While we have thousands of objects, books, and artifacts in our collection, surprisingly few are from the Revolutionary War period. One exception is the John Littlefield Journal, one of our most significant colonial period pieces, and this year you’ll be able to view its Revolutionary reflections up close. The journal passed from John Littlefield to his son, and then down through the generations for decades before coming to the Historical Society. Its collection of notes, reflections, and military summaries provide valuable insight into a local person’s view from the home front to the battlefield and back home. It’s a moving journey. We hope you'll stop in and share it with us!
Introducing our New
HOUSE HISTORY SERVICE
(It makes a great gift!)
Our searchable Collections Database is now online.
We want your opinion! Please take our survey here.
Historic Weddings
Choose our beautiful and historic seaside Meetinghouse as the setting for your very special day! Affordable pricing, plenty of space, and a beautiful setting. Find out more here.
