Editing Ogunquit, Maine (section)

== History ==

Ogunquit was first a village within [[Wells, Maine|Wells]], which was settled in 1641.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pearson |first=J. Taylor |date=2015 |title=Ogunquit Leads the Way: Stewardship of "The Beautiful Place by the Sea |url=http://ogunquitconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ogunquit-Leads-the-Way.pdf |access-date=June 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130135259/http://ogunquitconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ogunquit-Leads-the-Way.pdf |archive-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> The first [[sawmill]] was established in 1686, and [[shipbuilding]] developed along the tidal [[Ogunquit River]]. Local shipwrights built [[schooner]]s, [[brig]]s and [[Dory (boat)|dories]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ogunquit, Maine |url=https://promptguides.com/boston/attractions/ogunquit_maine.htm |website=Prompt Guides |access-date=June 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713122952/https://promptguides.com/boston/attractions/ogunquit_maine.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2013}}</ref>

At what was then called Fish Cove, near the unnavigable [[Josias River]], fishing was a major livelihood. But the cove was unprotected by a headland or [[breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] from [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] storms, so fishermen had to protect their boats by hauling them ashore each night. Resolving to create a safe anchorage, they formed the Fish Cove Harbor Association, and dug a channel across land they purchased to connect Fish Cove with the Josias River. When the trench was complete, erosion helped to further widen the passage. The resulting tidewater basin is called Perkins Cove, spanned by a manually operated draw [[footbridge]]. With a one and a half-mile beach of pale sand and [[dune]]s forming a [[shoal|barrier peninsula]], connected to the mainland in 1888 by bridge across the Ogunquit River, the village was discovered by artists. It became a popular [[art colony]] and tourist area. Particularly after 1898, when the Ogunquit Art Colony was established, it was not unusual to see both artists and fishermen working around [[Perkins Cove]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=De Feo|first=Anthony|date=April 18, 2017|title=Ogunquit Artist Colony: The Painter's Paradise|work=Daily Art Magazine|url=https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/ogunquit-artist-colony-painters-paradise/|access-date=October 22, 2020}}</ref> To accommodate summer crowds, several seaside hotels and inns were built. Marginal Way, a scenic trail dating back to the 1920s, runs along the coast from Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach.<ref name=seacoastnh>{{cite web|url=http://www.seacoastnh.com/Travel/Scenic-Walks/Marginal-Way|title=Marginal Way|website=SeacoastNH.com|access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michelle |date=2020-10-20 |title=The Quintessential Coastal Views From The Marginal Way Footpath Are Oh-So Maine |url=https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maine/coastal-views-marginal-way-me/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=OnlyInYourState |language=en-US}}</ref> Ogunquit seceded from Wells in 1980 and was incorporated as a town. Ogunquit was named America's Best Coastal Small Town in USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-coastal-small-town-2016/|title=Best Coastal Small Town Winners: 2016 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards|date=April 29, 2016 }}</ref>

Ogunquit is a destination for [[LGBT]] tourists, with numerous LGBT-owned and operated hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters, and other businesses. Most of the LGBT oriented businesses are in the village area of the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gay Ogunquit |url=https://www.ogunquit.org/gay-ogunquit/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, Tripadvisor ranked Ogunquit Beach as among the United States' top 10 beaches.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hunter |first=Marnie |date=February 28, 2023 |title=World's best beaches for 2023, according to Tripadvisor |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/best-beaches-2023-tripadvisor/index.html |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=CNN}}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:Bathing Scene, Ogunquit, ME.jpg|Ogunquit Beach {{circa|1910}}
Image:Perkins Cove & Marginal Way.jpg|Perkins Cove from Marginal Way {{circa|1920}}
Image:The Cliff House, Ogunquit, ME.jpg|The Cliff House {{circa|1920}}
Image:Perkins Cove Road, Ogunquit, ME.jpg|Perkins Cove Road {{circa|1920}}
</gallery>