Maine Preservation Released Endangered Historic Sites List
The state's nonprofit identified four historic properties facing significant threats to their long-term preservation.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Historical
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Maine Preservation unveiled its 2026 list of most endangered historic places, highlighting properties across the state that are struggling with deferred maintenance or potential demolition. The list aims to draw attention to sites ranging from historic cemeteries to architecture programs housed in aging facilities.
Why it matters
Designating these sites as endangered is a strategic effort to raise public awareness and encourage conservation efforts for properties at risk of being lost to time or neglect. By highlighting these specific locations, advocates hope to secure the resources or intervention needed to preserve their architectural and historical significance.
The list features four locations, including the Swanton-Deering House offered for $1 and cemetery repairs in Eastport estimated at $150,000. Additionally, the Wild Blueberry Land dome, a 26-foot structure in Columbia Falls, is currently for sale.
The players
Maine Preservation
This is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving historic buildings and places.
Bath Iron Works
This major shipbuilder and employer purchased the Swanton-Deering property in 1982 and currently manages the site's status.
University of Maine System
This public university system proposed moving the architecture program from Handley Hall due to ongoing maintenance costs.
The details
The sites range from Handley Hall in Augusta, where the university program faces potential relocation, to the Swanton-Deering House in Bath, which must be moved by November 2027 to avoid loss. In Eastport, Hillside Cemetery tombs require urgent stabilization after a failing wall prompted the city to install an emergency earthen mound.
Timeline
1818: Eastport purchased land for the Hillside Cemetery.
1839: The Swanton-Deering House was built.
1899: Handley Hall in Augusta was completed.
September 22, 2026: Maine Preservation released the 2026 endangered places list.
November 2027: The deadline to move the Swanton-Deering House.
Roadmap
These preservation efforts reflect a growing statewide push to balance aging infrastructure with modern development needs. This list follows a pattern set by the National Register of Historic Places to protect assets that hold cultural value beyond their immediate economic utility.
Residents can get involved by supporting local repair initiatives or by pursuing purchase opportunities for properties like the Swanton-Deering House. Understanding these local preservation needs helps community members advocate for funding or policy shifts that prevent the loss of historical sites.
The takeaway
Preserving historic sites requires a combination of public awareness and proactive community investment to prevent the loss of irreplaceable structures. Residents who value local history should monitor upcoming city council meetings regarding these sites to stay informed on local preservation developments.
What happens next
Interested parties must move the Swanton-Deering House from its current location by November 2027 to ensure its survival.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's efforts to protect its past in the Maine Historical section.
More information
View the full report and details on how to help on the Maine Preservation endangered places list.
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