Colburn House State Historic Site

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Arnold Trail Landmark — 1765 colonial house where Benedict Arnold planned his 1775 Quebec expedition — Maine’s most important Revolutionary War site

Colburn House State Historic Site preserves the 1765 home of Major Reuben Colburn in Pittston — where Benedict Arnold assembled his army and 200 bateaux (flat-bottomed boats) for the legendary 1775 march to Quebec. Colburn built the boats in just 2 weeks at his shipyard on the Kennebec River. The poorly-built green-wood boats leaked terribly, ruining food supplies and contributing to the expedition’s catastrophic losses. The house is one of Maine’s most important Revolutionary War sites.

Visitor Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What are bateaux?

Bateaux were flat-bottomed wooden boats used on Maine rivers. Colburn built 200 in just 2 weeks from green (unseasoned) wood — they leaked badly, soaking food supplies and causing much of the suffering on Arnold’s march. Some reconstructed bateaux are displayed at the site.

About Colburn House

Colburn House State Historic Site in Pittston preserves the 1765 home of Major Reuben Colburn — the shipbuilder who constructed 200 bateaux (flat-bottomed boats) for Benedict Arnold’s 1775 expedition to Quebec. Arnold stayed in this house while the boats were built on the nearby Kennebec River. It’s one of the most significant Revolutionary War sites in Maine.

Things to Do

Touring the restored 1765 colonial house, learning about the Arnold Expedition and American Revolutionary War history in Maine, viewing the Kennebec River where the bateaux were launched, and picnicking. Open seasonally.

Insider Tips

Arnold’s staging point: The Colburn House (1765) was where Benedict Arnold gathered bateaux (flat-bottomed boats) for his march to Quebec. Pro tip: The Kennebec River was the highway of colonial Maine — settlers, soldiers, and traders all depended on it. Colonial frontier: In 1775, the Maine frontier was genuinely wild — Native peoples still controlled most of the interior.

Best Time to Visit

Summer: House tours and Kennebec River views. Fall: River valley foliage. Spring: High water on the Kennebec. Year-round: Grounds accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bateau?

A bateau is a flat-bottomed wooden boat designed for shallow rivers — wider and more stable than a canoe. Arnold ordered 200 bateaux from the Colburn shipyard, but they were hastily built from green wood that leaked constantly. The waterlogged boats made the already brutal march even worse — soldiers spent hours bailing water. The bateau was the standard transport vessel on Maine’s rivers into the logging era.