One of the first European explorers that explored Maine was John Cabot.  John Cabot explored the Maine’s eastern coastline in about 1498. John’s journey went from Europe to Greenland and Greenland to Maine’s coastline. John sailed to Maine on a small ship called “Matthew.” Cabot went back to France and told the people there that the land he had explored had many resources such as pine trees, game such as deer and moose, and lots of seafood.
 
 

Giovanni Verrazano was another European explorer.  In 1524 he made it across from France to Casco Bay and made a French claim of Maine that wouldn’t be settled for 200 years. The French and Indian war lasted years as the two cultures fought over the land and resources of Maine and New England.
 
 
 

Esteban Gomez was also an explorer who explored the coastline of our beautiful Maine in 1525. He named 3 bays in our state, Casco Bay, Saco Bay, and the Bay of Fundy. Gomez was a Spanish man from Europe.