Authority Guide

Old Orchard Beach history

From the 1657 Thomas Rogers grant to the railway boom, to aviation pioneers, to the Pier's seven structures, OOB's recorded history goes deeper than the boardwalk suggests.

Updated May 2026

Eras

Colonial (1657, 1720s, Rogers grant, abandonment in King Philip's War). Resort era (1837, Old Orchard House hotel opens, founding the resort identity). Railway era (1873, Grand Trunk arrives, Québecois influx). Aviation era (1919, 1932, beach as runway). Modern (1980, current Pier built; 2021, current FIRM issued).

· Thomas Rogers (1657)
· Grand Trunk Railway
· Aviation 1927
· Québec heritage
· The Pier
· Notable figures

Compiled from Town of Old Orchard Beach, RSU 23, FEMA, Maine Revenue Service, US Census, and MLS. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed; verify before any transaction.