Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary

Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary is a 119-acre preserve in the heart of midcoast Maine in Georgetown. A hidden gem bounded on two sides by salt marsh, the sanctuary features over two and a half miles of trails that traverse meadows, coastline, forest, and rocky ridges. Stonewalls of yesteryear still cross this charming, tree-covered property, where bedrock has been twisted by the passage of time.

History

This 119-acre preserve in the heart of midcoast Maine was willed to Maine Audubon in 1968 by Josephine Oliver Newman.  Over her 90 years, Josephine Oliver Newman grew quite fond of the land her father, Sewall Parker Oliver, had purchased for the family farm. An avid and respected naturalist, known for her expertise on mosses, lichens, and liverworts, Josephine had an intimate knowledge of the site’s marsh, meadow, and coastline habitats. Called “Aunt Jo” by those who admired her, she shared this love for the family property and its diverse plant life with many visitors. Bequeathing 119 acres of the land to Maine Audubon in 1968, she continues to do so decades after her passing.