This Massive Maine Bookstore Has 14 Rooms Packed With Rare Treasures and Vintage Finds Galore

Picture this: a sunny corner of an old wooden porch, the scent of salt air drifting in from the Maine coast, and a beloved paperback in your hands that you just can’t put down. If that sounds like a little slice of heaven, you’re not alone. As temperatures rise and our thoughts turn to lazy afternoons outside, there’s no better time to dust off your ‘to-be-read’ pile – or better yet, expand it. Tucked away in a coastal town, there’s a place where books overflow from shelves like treasures waiting to be found. With 14 rooms packed to the rafters with stories, Harding’s Books in Wells, Maine is where your next reading adventure begins.

Exploring The Shelves Of Possibility

Harding’s doesn’t skimp on selection. With over 100,000 volumes tucked throughout its quietly creaky rooms, you’re bound to lose track of time thumbing through everything from dog-eared detective thrillers to scholarly poetry collections. You’ll find fiction in all its forms, deep nonfiction tomes, obscure memoirs, old cookbooks with weathered spines, and even vintage children’s titles that transport you instantly to another time. The stacks are tall and dense, lovingly arranged with a sense of cheerful chaos that invites exploration.

Every corner holds a surprise, whether it’s a fabric-bound classic or a long-forgotten paperback with a wildly illustrated cover. Wander outside and you’ll even spot carts and shelves along the porch, offering sun-kissed books just begging to be picked up for an on-the-go beach read. It’s impossible to leave empty-handed.

Hidden Treasures For The Curious Collector

For those who love the thrill of discovery, Harding’s holds much more than popular titles. Here you can run your fingers across the spines of rare and out-of-print works you never knew existed – or thought you’d never see again. Old editions of historical texts, beautifully bound leather books with gilded lettering, and authentic first prints tell stories not just in their pages, but in the way they’ve weathered the years.

The shop has a special focus on Americana, maritime lore, antique art books, genealogy volumes, and New England town histories that feel like time capsules in ink. Visible under glass or tucked in special cabinets, you’ll also discover antique maps and prints dating as far back as the 16th century – wavy-lined depictions of coastlines the way sailors once saw them. It’s a refuge for researchers, collectors, and daydreamers alike.

A Coastal Gem For Book Lovers

Step into Harding’s Books and you’re stepping into the warm embrace of literary history. Nestled on the postcard-perfect Post Road in the seaside town of Wells, this charming bookshop has the cozy, cluttered soul of an old professor’s study – minus the pipe smoke. The moment the door swings open, you’re met with the comforting scent of aging paper and polished wood. Think wide-plank floors, timeworn shelves, and 14 delightfully labyrinthine rooms filled to the brim with books that have stories on their covers and in their spines. It feels less like a store and more like an invitation to wander.

Planning Your Visit To Book Heaven

If you’re the kind of person who gets completely swept up in a treasure hunt of texts, you’ll want to carve out a good chunk of your day for Harding’s. Those 14 rooms are easy to get lost in – and you’ll be glad you did. Whether you’re on the hunt for something specific or just browsing until something winks at you from a shelf, time here feels deliciously unhurried. Harding’s is located at 2152 Post Road in Wells, with friendly folks behind the counter and doors open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you do need a heads-up before making the trip, their inventory is also searchable online.

And While You’re In Maine…

Maine has a way of surprising you. Just when you think you’ve experienced its seaside charm and cozy town quirks, you stumble upon something unexpected – like a peaceful walk alongside actual alpacas. Yes, really. Nestled among the nature trails and rustic farms of the state are gentle, fuzzy alpacas who’d love to go for a stroll with you. It’s just one more reason to let yourself linger here a little longer.