Merrymeeting Bay collection

The Cathance River, along with the Kennebec, Androscoggin, Eastern, Muddy, and Abagadasset rivers, converges upon the waters of Merrymeeting Bay, forming a remarkable natural feature. This bay, a rare inland tidal freshwater delta, stands among only a few of its kind across the globe. Situated within the Kennebec Estuary, Merrymeeting Bay has long been acknowledged by the state of Maine for its profound ecological significance. It is a region of extraordinary productivity, offering a vital habitat for a wide array of wildlife, including waterfowl, fish, and various bird species. This unique landscape has fostered life and biodiversity for centuries.

Merrymeeting Bay’s history is deeply rooted in the lives of the Indigenous peoples who first inhabited and cared for its lands and waters. Long before Europeans arrived, the bay’s rivers, especially the Kennebec, served as essential travel routes through the North American wilderness, connecting the coast to Maine’s interior.

For the Abenaki, the bay was a vital center for travel, sustenance, and culture. They relied on its rich resources, especially the annual migrations of fish such as shad and sturgeon that swam upstream to spawn. The Abenaki also introduced wild rice, brought from the Midwest to the bay’s fertile waters.

The name "Merrymeeting Bay" was once thought to have Abenaki origins, though its meaning remains debated. The bay stands as a reminder of the Abenaki’s deep connection to the land and their significant role in shaping the region’s history and environment. European colonization violently disrupted this way of life. In 1605, English explorer George Weymouth sailed up the Kennebec, praising its harbors, fish, and forests. His reports spurred Sir John Popham to establish a colony at the river’s mouth in 1607. That same year, Samuel de Champlain arrived at Merrymeeting Bay, initiating further European trade with local Indigenous communities. These early contacts quickly gave way to conflict, displacement, and immense suffering for the Abenaki, whose land and way of life were systematically taken from them.