Discover Hallowell: History, Trails and Culture

Hallowell lies on the banks of the Kennebec River. Its historic townscape, walking trails and cultural offerings give a stay a variety of possible focuses. Whether you choose a destination for its history, outdoor activities or an event, Hallowell offers a range of specific points of interest.

Historic Hallowell and its architectural styles

The Hallowell Historic District includes the downtown business district and adjacent residential neighborhoods. The area contains approximately 450 buildings; nearly 85 percent of them were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. These approximate figures and time frame convey both the scale of the district and the historical character of its buildings. The district is not limited to the commercial part of downtown but also includes adjacent residential areas.

Kennebec Row is a continuous row of brick commercial buildings. It gives the historic townscape a distinct architectural form: rather than a single building, the focus here is on a connected row. Visitors interested in architecture can distinguish this specific, clearly named group of buildings from the broader Historic District.

The Museum in the Streets offers another way to explore the town’s history. It is a walking tour through historic Hallowell, placing the emphasis on something other than individual architectural styles. For travelers who want to explore Hallowell on foot with a focus on history, the tour is a distinct point of interest.

Hiking trails and routes into town

Vaughan Woods is a network of hiking trails in the heart of historic Hallowell. It includes approximately three miles of trails that vary in width and difficulty. The approximate total length gives an idea of the network’s scale; when choosing a specific trail, the differences between trails also matter. If hiking is part of your stay, consider both trail width and difficulty when planning your visit.

The Kennebec River Rail Trail leads into the town of Hallowell, where you will find a variety of shops and eateries. This is a different way to plan an outing than at Vaughan Woods: the Rail Trail leads into town, while Vaughan Woods is described as a network of hiking trails in historic Hallowell. The two options may therefore appeal to different interests—for example, a route into town or a network of hiking trails.

Theater, community festival and market

The Gaslight Theater is Maine’s oldest continuously operating community theater. This makes a clearly identified theater offering one of Hallowell’s cultural attractions. If you are interested in community theater, you can consider it alongside history and nature trails when choosing a destination.

Old Hallowell Day is a community festival held every year on the third Saturday in July. The festivities begin with a parade and end with fireworks; individual events may change. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the current event details for your planned date.

The Hallowell Farmers’ Market is a community farmers market for local residents and visitors in Hallowell, Maine. Dates also matter when planning a visit: seasonal market details may change. Check the latest market information before planning a visit. Alongside historic sites, hiking trails and the theater, the market adds another local destination to the list.

Discover more destinations: Manchester, Waterville, Augusta, Gardiner

Go to the regional travel overview: Kennebec.