Historic

Historic Locations in Maine

Aroostook County

  • Acadian Village 879 Main St, Van Buren, ME 04785
    • The Acadian Village was named the state of Maine’s “Best Bicentennial Project.” It’s registered in the National Register of Historic Places and registered as a Historic National Landmark. 
  • America’s First Mile 341 West Main St, Fort Kent, ME 04743 | (613) 333-2233
    • This is the most northern and eastern US Highway system in the United States. Route 1 begins in Fort Kent and travels 2,369 miles south to Key West, Florida. There is a nice monument here overlooking the St. John River.
  • Fort Kent Blockhouse Blockhouse Rd, Fort Kent, ME 04743 | (207) 941-4014
    • Serves as a museum and is maintained by local Eagle Scouts. It is the only fortification relating to the “Bloodless” Aroostook War of 1839-1839 and the border dispute between Great Britain and the United States.
  • Nylander Museum 657 Main St, Caribou, ME 04736 | (207) 493-5923
    • If you’re interested in learning more about Aroostook County’s fauna, be sure to visit this museum. Because of their long history (founded in 1939), they have been able to expand their collection greatly.
  • Swedish Colony Westmanland, ME 04783
    • Maine’s historic Swedish Colony once covered much of what is now Westmanland and neighboring New Sweden, Perham, Stockholm, and Woodland, and many related sites remain in Westmanland today. Have an adventure seeing how many sites you can find along the way.

Downeast

  • Burnham Tavern 14 Colonial Way, Machias, ME 04654
    • If you’re searching for some rich history, this is the place for you. The Burnham Tavern Museum is the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution, which took place on June 12, 1775. This is one of the 21 homes in the United States designated as the most significant to the Revolution as of 1974. Click here for more information on the tavern’s rich history and importance in the Revolution. 
  • Deer Isle Granite Museum 51 Main St, Stonington, ME 04681 | (207) 367-5008
    • “The museum’s exhibits celebrate the skill and bravery of Stonington’s quarrymen, as well as the fascinating history of the Deer Isle granite industry. The quarriers’ risky work cut the distinctive pink granite used in such 20th-century monuments as New York’s Rockefeller Center, approaches to the Manhattan and George Washington Bridges and the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.
  • Lost Fishermen’s Memorial Park 12 Water St, Lubec, ME 04652 | 207-733-2341
    • “The goal of the park is to honor the brave souls that have lost their lives in the fishing industry off the waters of Washington County, Maine, and Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada.” The memorial serves as an emotional reminder to the community of all the sacrifices made by the brave fishermen.
  • McCurdy Smokehouse Museum 50 Water St, Lubec, ME 04652 | (207) 733-2197
    • Last traditional smoked-herring facility in the United States, which closed its doors in 1991. On July 15, 1993, the smokehouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It now features rotating exhibits with arts and crafts and a gift shop.
  • Raye’s Mustard Museum 83 Washington St, Eastport, ME 04631 | (800) 853-1903
    • See the mustard-making process and sample each of their small-batch mustard flavors at America’s last remaining stone-ground mustard mill.
  • Roosevelt Campobello International Park (CA) 459 Rte 774, Welshpool, New Brunswick, Canada E5E 1A4 |(506) 752-2922
    • 2,800-acre Natural Area where you can explore walking trails, beaches, bogs, forest, spectacular ocean headlands, or a picnic with an ocean or lighthouse view. There are great hiking trails, a museum, and the Fireside Restaurant and the Prince Cafe.

Western Maine

  • Dead River Historical Society 171 Main St, Stratton, ME 04982 
    • This classic building houses a wonderful collection of artifacts, pictures, furniture, and more of the Dead River area including the lost villages of Flagstaff Lake. The Flagstaff and Dead River villages were lovely mountain towns with farms, schools, and general stores. The villages disappeared when the valley was flooded to bring in hydro-electric power.
  • Hamlin Memorial Library & Museum 16 Hannibal Hamlin Dr, Paris, ME 04271 | (207) 743-2980Hamlin Memorial Library & Museum
    • The building housing Hamlin Memorial Library, named for the nephew of former Vice President Hannibal Hamlin who purchased and donated the building, was originally the Oxford County Jail, making it one of the most unique-looking libraries with a colorful history.
  • Lost Villages of Flagstaff Lake
    • Did you know that there are 2 lost “ghost” villages underneath Flagstaff lake? Flagstaff Village and Dead River Plantation are the lost “Atlantis” towns of Maine. Some say you can still see them when the waters of Flagstaff lake are clear. Flagstaff Boat Tours / Dead River Guide Service is a great way to see them.
  • Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum 22 Church St, Livermore Falls, ME 04254 | (207) 592-1807
    • This museum displays stories and artifacts related to Maine’s proud history of paper mills, which remain an important part of Jay and the surrounding area’s economy today.
  • Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum ME-4 & Rte 17, Oquossoc, ME 04964 | (207) 864-5647
    • The Rangeley Sporting Museum offers a great history of the area surrounding Rangeley and the Oquossoc region. They also can keep tourists and visitors up to date on current events in the area.
  • Sweden Historical Society Sweden, ME 04040
    • Sweden’s historical society has been doing great work preserving buildings in town, researching, and preserving the town’s past. Check out some of the fascinating articles published on their website!

Other Historic Locations in Maine

  • Elephant Mountain B-52 Crash Site Elephant Mountain, Greenville, ME 04441
    • On top of Elephant Mountain lies the remains of a tragedy from January 23, 1963. A B-52 plane from Westover Airforce Base was flying a low-level radar mission when the plane hit turbulence it was unequipped to handle, causing the plane to crash into the mountain. The pilot and navigator survived the crash. The pilot survived by landing in a tree and wrapping himself in his survival kit sleeping bag. The navigator’s parachute failed and he landed in the snow-covered ground, fracturing his skull and breaking three ribs. He became the first person ever to survive an ejection from an aircraft without the parachute opening. The remaining seven people aboard passed away in the crash. Today, the crash site remains to serve as a memorial to those who perished in the accident with flags, a stone memorial with the names of the deceased, and signs with more information about the plane, the crash, and the rescue. 
  • Popham Colony Phippsburg, ME 04562
    • Everyone hears about the 1607 Jamestown colony, but what most people do not know is that at the same time, the Popham Colony in Maine was formed. About 100 men arrived here at the mouth of the Kennebec River to trade with Native Americans, find gold and other mineral riches, and discover a Northwest Passage to the Pacific and Asia. Popham remains more of a mystery because it failed pretty early on due to the harsh winter, low supplies, and poor leadership. After returning to England, they decided to shut down their colony. 

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