The iconic Boothbay Harbor Footbridge is perhaps the most recognized structure in town. The pedestrian bridge has connected downtown to the east side for over a century, allowing people a scenic view or convenient walk to homes, hotels and businesses.

The footbridge was built in 1901 by Luther Maddocks for $1,500. Since then, it has gone through numerous renovations. It was restored twice after severe ice damage in the winters of 1918 and 1928. In addition, it was rehabilitated in 1979, and had more repairs done in 2017.

Most recently, the footbridge was renovated in 2023. Residents and longtime visitors may notice the changes, including programmable LED lighting and an A-frame structure heralding back to the historic swing bridge, now gone. There are also several bump out viewing areas with benches set away from the main path.

The new design also includes functional improvements. It was widened, has a higher load rating and now complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. In addition, the bridge was raised to help accommodate sea level rise and weather conditions, such as ice. For water access, it now has three floats, tripling dockage capacity.