Treat

Treat Island is located to the northwest of Lubec Narrows, about midway between the villages of Lubec and Eastport when traveling by water. Acquired by [Maine Coast Heritage Trust](https://www.mcht.org/) in 2009, this prominent landmark is less than a mile from the Lubec Town Landing, but the swift currents and dynamic waters around the island can make getting there a challenge at certain times.

Visitors who successfully navigate to the island will find inviting gravel landings on the southern shore on either side of the dike linking Treat to Dudley Island. Trails lead from the southwestern and southeastern beaches through upland meadows and spruce woods, offering stunning views of the surroundings. Camping is allowed in a designated site in the meadow above the southwest beach.

Little is known about the pre-Colonial history of the island, but Treat has a well-documented recorded history due to its location alongside the Canadian border. Revolutionary War Colonel John Allan, Military Commander of the Eastern District of Maine and an ally to the local Passamaquoddy people, established a trading post on the island in 1784. Later, during the U.S. Civil War in the 1860s, an artillery battery and barracks were constructed to guard against potential Confederate attacks. In 1935, under U.S. Government ownership, a rock-filled dike was constructed between Treat and Dudley Islands for a tidal power project that was never realized. Today, the International Boundary Commission maintains four prominent boundary range markers on Treat, which help determine the center line and turning points of the water boundary.

Please help protect the historic sites on Treat Island. Digging, metal detecting and the removal of archaeological artifacts are prohibited.