The first explorer to explore the east coast of Maine was John Cabot. Historians think he explored the Atlantic coast for England in about 1498. Other European explorers began to explore the east coast of North America looking for resources like fish, furs, lumber, and land.

 In 1524 an Italian explorer named Giovanni da Verrazano sailing for France entered Casco Bay and made a French  claim, setting the stage for an English-French rivalry that would not be settled for 200 years.