Regarding Plans To Replace The Historic Perkins Cove Footbridge In Ogunquit, Maine

As the town of Ogunquit works through the early stages of the process of replacing the pedestrian footbridge at Perkins Cove, I believe it’s important to reflect on what an important and iconic facet of our “beautiful place by the sea” that our little bridge, in it’s many iterations, has been — and continues to be — as the years and decades slide by.

Perkins Cove is quintessential New England. A fishing village. A lobster harbor. A piece of hallowed ground for the arts. The birthplace of the Ogunquit Art Colony. A place where the ramshackle fishing shacks of yesteryear became living space for artists, and then became shops and restaurants. Perkins Cove is a cherished corner of geography where vibrant vestiges of the storied past can still be found by those who are seeking them; in the tiny art galleries, the big personalities, the boats, the crash of waves, and the scent of lobster bait in the salty breeze. (RELATED: See Ogunquit Photos: Follow @OgunquitNews on Instagram)

It’s no wonder why an endless parade of tourists, writers, thinkers, romance-seekers, artists, and photographers make the pilgrimage to Perkins Cove each and every year.

This small spit of land is packed to the highest possible density with essential New England landscapes. Each and every imaginable vantage point from which Perkins Cove can be viewed has been discovered, explored, painted, and photographed – often with the Perkins Cove footbridge serving as the most prominent visual anchor in the composition. The mere silhouette of our beloved bridge denotes a powerfully strong sense of place — and that place is Ogunquit!  

Imagine how very many memories are connected to this iconic footbridge, in the shadow of the Charles H. Woodbury studio, guarding the entrance to Perkins Cove. Across the world, heads are filled with reminiscences by generations of excited children (and parents) who have felt the thrill of rushing into place to press the button and operate the drawbridge whenever a high-masted boat approaches. There’s something about a drawbridge that forces us all to slow down our fast-paced lives. Think of the way everyone in Perkins Cove stops and looks for a moment whenever they hear the bridge’s bell ring, see the leaves begin to rise, and witness a boat enter or exit the harbor. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it; but it still thrills every single time.

I’ve heard the Perkins Cove bridge referred to as “the only remaining wooden, double-leaf draw-footbridge in the United States“. I’ve also heard the bridge called “one of the most photographed spots in the State of Maine“. The bridge in Perkins Cove is depicted on T-shirts, coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, puzzles, legions of paintings, and more Instagram photos than any of us could ever count. It’s a true and enduring symbol of our town – PLUS an important visual part of our shared history, one that manifests feelings of warm familiarity within the hearts of all who have had the distinct pleasure of gazing upon it during their own visit to Ogunquit. (RELATED: Click here to join the Ogunquit, Maine Art + Photography Group to see TONS of paintings and photographs depicting our town!)

The Perkins Cove footbridge holds such power and wields such charm precisely because it is different. It draws the eye. It’s instantly recognizable. Its unique structure is a HUGE part of what makes Perkins Cove such a magical place to visit. This bridge is a MAJOR part of the visual flavor of this town. Our town of Ogunquit that prides itself on being its own place. Our town with no chain restaurants. Our town that seeks to preserve its honestly-earned legacy as a cherished fishing and arts community.

Time passes. Things change. It’s inevitable. Our Perkins Cove bridge is, at a minimum, going to change in some small ways. It won’t be the first time. This bridge has changed before. But through all the changes, it has always remained something special, something distinctive, something with enough character to make it memorable, to make it picturesque, to make certain that a trip to Ogunquit is set apart from a trip to anywhere else in the world. 

The well-documented historic nature of the Perkins Cove bridge should give us hope. The earliest Ogunquit Select Board conversations about the approximately 3-million-dollar+ replacement project for this bridge have included phrases such as “designated historic structure” and “as like of a replication as possible”. We’re optimistic that’s where the final decision will fall. Still, it’s important for all of us to keep an eye on the progress of this important project and make certain nothing goes awry.

Ultimately, the task has fallen to us. Since this historic bridge needs to be replaced, it’s up to our generation to do everything we can to ensure that our new Perkins Cove bridge awakens the soul, inspires creativity within, and effervescently invigorates all who see it, while also continuing to remind people of the “beautiful place by the sea” where it can always be visited.

Keep scrolling below to see just a VERY SMALL variety of Ogunquit, Maine artworks from over the last 100+ years in which the Perkins Cove Pedestrian Footbridge is featured!

View A Video of Don Gorvett Creating Artwork Depicting The Perkins Cove Drawbridge in Ogunquit, Maine

View A Small Variety of Artworks (by a small variety of Ogunquit Art Colony artists) Depicting the Historic Perkins Cove Pedestrian Footbridge in Ogunquit, Maine. Click any image for a larger view!

Thinking About Purchasing Real Estate In Ogunquit, Maine (or the surrounding towns)?

Charlene Taubert is an Ogunquit, Maine resident and licensed Realtor® with Aland Realty Group who is known for providing energetic, enthusiastic, and concierge-class service to her clients seeking to buy (or sell) real estate in Ogunquit, Maine (or the surrounding towns).

Disclaimer: Information is harvested (at time of publication) from publicly available sources and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed – any editorial content is solely opinion-based – availability, prices, details, dates, times, and etc are subject to change or withdrawal at any time and for any reason. All dimensions are approximate and have not been verified. All data should be independently verified.