What began as pleasure-seeking day trips aboard steamboats became the lifeline that saved Casco Bay's island communities—and Donna Damon knows exactly how it happened. Join us online for an illustrated discussion of how mid 19th century Portlanders' excursions to the Casco Bay Islands evolved into regular steamboat transportation that transformed isolated island communities into tourist destinations and contributed to the islands' long term sustainability.
Birds Eye View of Casco Bay: Portland, Maine and Surroundings, 1906. Geo. H. Walker & Co. Maine Central Railroad Company, Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine, Image 1351.0001.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
Location: Online via Zoom
Fee: FREE admission but registration is encouraged. Donations greatly appreciated and will help us offer more free and low-cost programming.
Details: This is an online only program. Zoom link sent in confirmation email. Recording link will be sent after the event.
Please email Aimée Keithan or call 207.358.7064 with questions!
MEET OUR SPEAKER
Donna Miller Damon’s roots in Casco Bay go back to 1756 when her ancestors settled on Great Chebeague Island. She grew up on the island, where she raised her family. Since childhood Donna has been interested in Chebeague’s history and was a founder of the Chebeague Island Historical Society. She developed a passion for primary research while an undergraduate at the University of Maine and continued that work while earning an MA in American and New England Studies at USM. She shared her interest in local history with her students at Greely.
Donna curated many exhibits at the Museum of Chebeague History and has presented several illustrated lectures in the greater Portland area. A frequent contributor to the Island Journal and the Working Waterfront, her articles about Nabisco’s decision to stop production of the Pilot Cracker, New England’s favorite Cracker, started a national movement that resulted in Nabisco reversing its decision.
Donna served on the Cumberland Town Council, the Chebeague Select Board, and several nonprofits including the Island Institute and Greater Portland Landmarks.