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Casco Bay
Great Diamond
Great Diamond Island is part of the city of Portland and one of the year-round islands in Casco Bay. The island was initially an artistic retreat community but was converted to a military base at the time of the Spanish American War to defend Casco Bay. Fort McKinley was constructed between 1891 and 1907 and remained in service until the end of World War II in 1945.
After 30 years of being idle, the former base site – which encompasses the middle of the island - was converted into a gated resort community called Diamond Cove. Condos in the converted barracks and officers’ quarters and private homesites are primarily owned by seasonal visitors. The majority of the year-round population lives on either ends of the island.
The island is the only island on the Casco Bay Lines route with two separate stops; one at the public dock and the other at Diamond Cove’s dock. In 1986, The Island Institute successfully advocated on behalf of Great Diamond residents for reducing the scale of the proposal that eventually became Diamond Cove.
News |
| May 15, 2008 | | Draft Agenda: Maine Island Coalition Meeting |
| Nov 14, 2006 | | Maine Islands Coalition November 14, 2006 |