For decades, Allen and Benner islands off the Maine coast were the summer home of renowned American artist Andrew Wyeth and his wife/business manager Betsy Wyeth. With lobster traps, rocky beaches, and a large white sail loft building as a focal point, the islands evoke classic Maine. As do Andrew Wyeth’s paintings inspired by and created here. In fact, his final painting, “Goodbye,” is of that 19th-century sail loft.
But while Betsy Wyeth actively conserved the island landscape and re-established a working waterfront for locals, the environment around these islands has been changing rapidly. Allen and Benner islands sit five miles south of Port Clyde in Muscongus Bay, which is part of the Gulf of Maine, which has the dubious distinction of warming faster than 99 percent of the world’s oceans.
In 2022, Colby College acquired the islands, and as its newest steward is utilizing this 500-acre campus for learning, research, and creative inspiration across disciplines—long-term climate monitoring, biodiversity and bird research, photography and cinema, and much more. With year-round access and undisturbed environments, the islands are ideally situated for study and collaboration.
I live in Maine, but not in coastal Wyeth-esque Maine. Nor do I own a boat. So when Colby offered alumni, like me, a chance to visit Allen Island last summer I quickly signed on, and learned about its new Motus wildlife tracking station. This summer I returned to the island campus on another Colby trip, this time with my husband and a college friend to share the experience.
The Settlement
Can you imagine owning an island like this?
I said this umpteen times on Allen Island as my husband, friend, and I looked at the ocean views, as we ate lunch in the sail loft, as we walked on mossy trails through trees, as we encountered rocky beaches and more island views.
Allen (450 acres) and its neighboring Benner Island (50 acres) are beyond beautiful. They look and feel how you’d want and expect rugged but welcoming Maine islands to look and feel (thanks, Betsy). I felt lucky to visit, to walk quietly along trails and open spaces, to spot birds and butterflies, to watch a Bald Eagle fly to a pine tree perch over on Benner.
Amid the natural beauty, I wondered how I might have engaged with and been inspired by these islands back when I was a Colby environmental studies and creative writing student. A one-day field trip to Reid State Park on the ocean decades ago still stands out, so the potential of an entire island campus sounds extraordinary.
Working Waterfront
In addition to being an island campus, Allen Island has an active waterfront that continues to support the lobstering community. Again, thanks to Betsy Wyeth who re-established it. Sadly, we did not get to indulge in hyper-local lobster during this visit. (Colby, if you ever offer a lobstering/fisheries educational trip, I’m interested.)
Island Trails
A few miles of trails loop around Allen Island. Our trio had time to hike about half (2.5 miles). We walked on mossy trails that looked like few people had tread there, visited rocky beaches, listened to frogs in ponds, noticed butterflies and birds in fields, and ascended Allen Island’s rock throne. I imagined Betsy and Andrew walking these same spots for relaxation, inspiration, or just a morning stroll and swim.
I also felt a slight tension. All around us was the Wyeths’ staggering privilege to acquire and create a 500-acre summer residence for the purpose of inspiring and creating (great) art. Can you imagine? And yet, this also was a place dedicated to preserving and curating its natural environment and local livelihoods. Despite the wealth gap, I felt grateful to the Wyeths, particularly Betsy, for stewarding these islands for decades.
Now it’s Colby’s turn to build on and expand their legacy. While Allen and Benner islands remain private as part of the college’s campus, their impact and scope are broadening in Maine and beyond through interdisciplinary studies, education, research, and collaboration on environmental and climate issues. For a lucky island visitor, like me, they’re still sites for inspiration and quiet reflection.
Whether you’re a prominent American artist, a devoted island steward, a college student, researcher, or a middle-aged alum, our rapidly-changing world deserves more of our creative vision and collaboration. Can we imagine that?
All photos copyright Alicia MacLeay (Colby ’97).
Click on an image to scroll through the galleries above.