Whitehall

The Whitehall is a historic inn at 52 High Street in Camden, Maine, a coastal town at the foot of the Camden Hills on Penobscot Bay in the mid-coast region. Built in 1834 as a private residence and significantly expanded over the following century, the inn occupies a prominent position on Camden's main residential avenue, its wide veranda and white-clapboard exterior defining the quintessential Maine inn aesthetic. The property holds historical significance as the place where a young Edna St. Vincent Millay first publicly recited her poem 'Renascence' in 1912, an event credited with launching her literary career; the inn's library and common rooms are furnished with period pieces and a collection of poetry and regional literature that honors this heritage. Accommodations range from standard rooms to more spacious deluxe rooms with private baths; the inn maintains an unpretentious, literary-house atmosphere throughout. The dining room and full bar serve New England cuisine and Maine craft beverages, and the inn hosts occasional cultural events including author readings. Guests have access to a clay tennis court and a croquet lawn that preserve the gracious outdoor character of a traditional Maine summer inn. Camden Harbor, with its celebrated fleet of historic wooden windjammer schooners offering multi-day cruises along the coast, is a 10-minute walk downhill. The Camden Hills State Park trailhead, with summit views over Penobscot Bay, is a short drive. The Whitehall operates seasonally, typically May through October, and fall foliage season in September and October is among the property's most popular periods.