02020120 – Maine – Go Funway

MAINE

Winter Harbor Light is located on Mark Island, not far from the town of Winter Harbor. It’s visible from several locations along the coast in the Schoodic Peninsula portion of Acadia National Park. Winter Harbor Light is no longer in active use and is privately owned.

Easternmost Point in USA

West Quoddy Head Light marks the easternmost point of the contiguous United States, where the first rays of sunrise touch the country each morning. Perched on rugged cliffs overlooking the Bay of Fundy, the iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse has guided mariners since 1858. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking ocean views, dramatic rocky shorelines, and excellent opportunities to spot whales, seals, and seabirds during the warmer months. The surrounding trails of Quoddy Head State Park wind through coastal forests and along spectacular cliffs, making it a favorite destination for hikers and photographers. Combining natural beauty, maritime history, and unforgettable sunrises, Maine’s easternmost point is one of the state’s most memorable coastal treasures.

Situated in the far northeastern corner of the country, Maine is famous for its lobsters, rugged coastline, and spectacular autumn foliage. Part of the region known as New England, it is the easternmost state in the nation. Maine borders only one other U.S. state, New Hampshire, while also sharing a lengthy border with Canada and an extensive Atlantic coastline.

The Appalachian Mountains form the state’s northwestern boundary, while its heavily forested landscape is dotted with thousands of lakes. The largest of these is Moosehead Lake, which stretches approximately 40 miles long and 10 miles wide. Surrounded by stunning natural scenery, the lake is a popular destination for visitors seeking outdoor adventures such as camping, fishing, canoeing, and wildlife watching.

Although Maine is nicknamed “The Pine Tree State,” its forests contain a rich mix of evergreen and deciduous trees, including oak, maple, beech, and birch. Each autumn, these woodlands burst into brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold, creating the colorful displays for which New England is renowned. Together with the state’s lakes, mountains, and coastal habitats, these forests support an abundance of wildlife, including black bears, moose, waterfowl, and puffins.

Riches from the Sea

European interest in Maine began early in the seventeenth century. The French established a presence in the region in 1604, while the British made a short-lived attempt to found a settlement at Popham Colony in 1607. For more than a century, France and Britain competed for control of the area, with British influence eventually prevailing. Following the American Revolution, however, the territory became part of the newly independent United States in 1783. Even today, Maine retains a distinctly English character, reflected in both its climate and place names, with towns such as Cumberland, Buxton, Scarborough, and Biddeford echoing their counterparts across the Atlantic.

Maine remained part of Massachusetts until March 15, 1820, when it entered the Union as the twenty-third state. Although the capital was moved from Portland to Augusta in 1832, Portland remains the state’s largest city and busiest port. Shipbuilding continues to play an important role in the economy, and while commercial fishing remains significant, forestry has long been one of Maine’s most important industries.

The state’s fertile land produces abundant apples and blueberries, but Maine’s most famous culinary treasure comes from the sea. The Maine lobster, a giant crustacean capable of reaching two feet in length, is celebrated for its sweet, tender meat and is often served simply with melted butter. The lobster industry generates roughly $1 billion annually, with the vast majority of the catch shipped to markets beyond the state’s borders.

STATEHOOD

March 15, 1820

CAPITAL CITY

Augusta

STATE PARKS

Maine has 48 state parks.

NATIONAL PARKS

Maine is home to one national park.

Acadia National Park

FUN FACTS

The first donuts in America did not have holes. They were introduced by Dutch settlers, who fried dough in hot oil, but they often remained raw in the middle. Captain Hansen Gregory came up with the solution of punching a hole in the center.

During colonial times, Maine lobsters were so plentiful they were served to prison inmates.

Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberries in the United States, exporting over 90% of the country’s crop.

Because it sits in the extreme top-right corner of the country, Maine is the only U.S. state that shares its land border with just one other state (New Hampshire).

Maine’s rugged coastline spans about 3,478 miles, making it longer than the entire coastline of California.

To protect its sweeping scenic views, Maine enacted a strict law banning billboards statewide in 1978.