About

An Island in Time

Swan Island, at the head of Merrymeeting Bay, welcomes hikers, campers, birders, anglers, wildlife watchers and explorers to its shores for an unforgettable Maine experience. Visitors may immerse themselves in history, surround themselves in nature and discover abundant wildlife. There is a kids-only trout fishing pond, a wildlife viewing tower and special food plots for wildlife. This State Wildlife Management Area preserves a part of history and a place in time. Come visit!

Swan Island may be small, but it holds a vast history. For centuries, Wabanaki peoples used the island as a seasonal hunting camp. While some historical accounts suggest English explorers named it for migrating swans, others believe the name derives from "Swango," the Abenaki word for "island of eagles." By the 1800s, the land had transformed into a bustling agricultural community of over 100 residents and 27 homes, five of which still stand today. This deep heritage earned the island a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) began protecting the island's unique legacy in the 1940s, culminating in the creation of the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area in 1988.