Discover nineteenth-century Wiscasset

A National Historic Landmark

Shipping magnate Captain William Nickels built Nickels-Sortwell House in 1807 as his trophy house when Wiscasset was booming with international maritime wealth. After his death, the house became a hotel for working and professional people and travelers.  In 1899, industrialist Alvin Sortwell purchased the house as a summer home for his family. The Sortwells lovingly restored the house over the years, decorating and furnishing it in the Colonial Revival style.

Visit this stunning Federal-style mansion and hear stories of the many fascinating people who lived and worked here.

Location:
121 Main Street, Wiscasset, Maine
207-882-7169

Hours of Operation:

• June 1 to October 15, Friday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• All group tours must be scheduled in advance by appointment. In addition to regular open days, group tours may be scheduled on days the museum is closed to the public, dependent on staff availability.

Specialty Tours

We are happy to work with you to customize your experience.

Tour Details

• Up to 12 visitors can tour the house with each guide. Accommodations can be made for larger groups, but please allow 10 minutes extra for staggered start times for each group of 10-12.
• Please note that the tour requires a considerable amount of standing and climbing stairs. If members of your group need special assistance, please let the museum know in advance.

Cost:

• Guided House Tour: Regular open day tours $15 per adult, $13 per senior, and $7 per student for groups of 8 or more visitors. Outside regular open days or Specialty tour: $25 per adult, $23 per senior, and $12 per student. Prices subject to change.
• Receptive tour operator rates available upon request.
• Tour leader and bus driver are welcome to a complimentary tour with the group.
• A non-refundable deposit based on your maximum number is due upon booking. The outstanding balance must be paid when the group arrives on-site for the tour.Please call two weeks in advance to confirm a guaranteed number of visitors.
• Please call two weeks in advance to confirm a guaranteed number of visitors.

Nearby Attractions:

• Take a self-guided walking tour of the historic village with Wiscasset’s Museum in the Streets™ or visit the 1811 Old Lincoln County Jail run by the Lincoln County Historical Association on Federal Street in Wiscasset.
• Enjoy a downtown filled with unique shops and eateries including Le Garage and Sarah’s Café and Treats.
• Visit another Historic New England property nearby. Package discounts available.
  • Castle Tucker, Wiscasset – Dramatically sited on a hill overlooking the Sheepscot River, Castle Tucker tells the story of a prominent shipping family’s life on the coast of Maine over 150 years. One of the most intact Victorian-era homes in New England, it is filled with the family’s furnishings, including an original parlor and four generations of kitchen technology.

Amenities:

• One restroom in the museum
• Parking available in front of the barn or on the street

Please Remember:

• Food and drink are prohibited in the museum.
• Touching, leaning, or sitting on the objects is prohibited.
• Cell phones should be silenced prior to your tour.
• Your group will stay with the tour guide for the entire tour.

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