A fishing and resort area, Bristol includes the villages of New Harbor, Pemaquid, Round Pond, Bristol Mills and Chamberlain. Landmarks include Pemaquid Archeological Site, Fort William Henry and Harrington Meeting House. Bristol is the birthplace of William North, statesman.
Bristol, Maine gifts and souvenirs: 40 designs made from Bristol's own map, landmarks and history, from $10 to $99. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Bristol Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Bristol Landmarks Photo Poster | from $40 |
| Bristol Vintage Travel Poster | from $40 |
| Bristol Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Bristol Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Bristol Town Line Mug | from $26 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon, in 4 styles
Famous natives, by birth year
Nine local landmarks, archival matte
Its landmark photo in a classic travel-poster layout
A local landmark photo as a gallery print
Classic large-letter postcard art, filled with local photos
Six local landmarks as instant photos on kraft paper
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Map of local landmarks, washable fabric
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Red heavy-blend crewneck, knit-stitch town print
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos, 11 oz ceramic
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
A local landmark photo with the town name, 18″×18″
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Large-letter postcard art on a sturdy tote
Foam-front trucker, printed (not embroidered) with local photos
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
Six local landmarks as instant photos, soft fleece 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town
From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town
From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town
From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town
Population 2010: 2,755 → 2020: 2,834
From Wikidata (CC0).
Once territory of the Wawenock (or Walinakiak, meaning "People of the Bay") Abenaki Indians, early Bristol was one of the most important and embattled frontier settlements in the province. Beginning with seasonal fishing, as early as 1625 the English established at Pemaquid Point a year-round trading post for fur trading. In 1631, the area was granted as the Pemaquid Patent by the Plymouth Council to Robert Aldsworth and Gyles Elbridge, merchants from Bristol, England.
In 1632, Pemaquid was raided and plundered by the pirate Dixie Bull. While Bull is widely considered New England's first pirate, he was born in Huntington, England, around 1611. In 1632, Bull arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, and began his career sailing along the New England coastline, trading animal furs and skins with the Wabanaki.
In 1632, Bull was attacked by French pirates who stole all of his goods, leaving him with only his ship. In the following weeks, Bull searched for the French pirates but was unsuccessful. In desperation, Bull gathered a group of men and began attacking and looting other boats along the coast. Landing in Pemaquid later in 1632, Bull and his men attacked the local warehouse and looted all of the homes in the area. According to historical accounts, they looted £500 worth of goods. Panic spread throughout Pemaquid, as this was the first time severe looting had happened. Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts sent out four boats to hunt down Bull and his men, but they were unsuccessful. While rumors and legends about Bull grew over the years, there are no consistent historical accounts of where he went.
The Great Colonial Hurricane on August 15, 1635 sank the galleon Angel Gabriel while it was anchored off the settlement, drowning some crew and passengers.
In 1664, the Duke of York (the future King James II) claimed Pemaquid was within his patent, which also included Sagadahoc and recently acquired New Amsterdam. To help anglicize the latter into New York City, Governor Sir Edmund Andros had some of its Dutch inhabitants transported to Pemaquid, now called Jamestown for its royal owner. By 1665, the village had approximately 30 houses.
During King Philip's War, in 1676 Indians attacked and burned English settlements up the coast, including Pemaquid. The following year, a new wooden defense called Fort Charles was built.
...[the pirates] went after Capt. Carr's sloop, lying at Pemaquid, which they alsoe took a little distance from said Pemaquid, but finding the Mast and Bowspreat not serviceable [to repair the snow] they left her there, and brought the Master thereof aboard the Snow then at Menhagen [Monhegan]...
The pirates soon left the area, abandoning all the other vessels (including the Anne) they had captured and most of their prisoners at Matinicus on or about May 9, 1717 on Minot's sloop.
During Father Rale's War, the location was a rendezvous for Natives and French to return inhabitants of Pemaquid and vicinity that they had taken prisoner during the war.
Colonel David Dunbar, Surveyor-General of the King's Woods, rebuilt the fort in 1729–1730, renaming it Fort Frederick. He renamed the town Harrington after the Earl of Harrington, who had helped arrange the 1729 Treaty of Seville.
During King George's War, Fort Frederick withstood two attacks in 1747, but in 1759 was decommissioned at the end of the French and Indian Wars.
In 1775, the town dismantled the fort to prevent it from becoming a British stronghold during the Revolutionary War. The state acquired the site in 1902, and in 1908 rebuilt the tower of Fort William Henry under guidance of historian John Henry Cartland, using many original stones. In 1993, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark.
During the War of 1812, the waters off Pemaquid Point saw the capture of HMS Boxer by the USS Enterprise on September 5, 1813. The town would set off land to create Nobleboro in 1788, Bremen in 1828, Damariscotta in 1848 and South Bristol in 1915. Today, Bristol is a popular tourist destination.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Bristol, Maine, revision 1382980819 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Bristol sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
11 free coloring pages of Bristol, each traced from a photo of a local landmark. Print them at home, at school or for story hour.
Bristol's population was 2,834 in the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 2,755 in 2010.
Pemaquid Point Light
Pemaquid Archeological Site
Pemaquid Archeological Site
Muscongus Bay