Wilder York, 14 months, of Bath got to check out Wiscasset’s castle on the water Saturday, Historic New England’s (HNE) Castle Tucker, with parents Monica Finley and Ryan York. New to the area, they are getting around to the sights and learning the history, Finley said.

At the steps moments later, tour-goers at the free open house slipped footies onto their shoes. HNE guide Jennifer Linskey told attendees Castle Tucker and HNE's Nickels-Sortwell House, at the corner of Main and Federal streets, were both built in 1807 but are "very different": Nickels-Sortwell, Federal; and Castle Tucker, Victorian.

The tour would include walking over the parquet floors sea captain Richard Tucker put in, Linskey continued.

HNE’s free open houses June 1 at Castle Tucker and Nickels-Sortwell House had good turnouts, Wiscasset site manager Peg Konitzky said Sunday.

"We had about 150 people visit Castle Tucker, and I know it was so busy we missed some in that count. And even more visited Nickels-Sortwell House, about 170. So it was a really positive start to the season, despite the construction (around Route 1)," Konitzky responded via email.

"My guides were amazing as always, and everyone seemed to have a good time."