In Aroostook, Maine's largest and northernmost county, you'll find a lot of natural, cultural and recreational resources. In "The County," you can bike along endless fields of potato blossoms; canoe and fish in one of the area's 2000 lakes, rivers and streams; hike along glorious wooded trails; or cross-country ski and snowmobile through the beautiful winter landscape. There are many festivals and fairs where residents celebrate their agricultural roots and the Acadian heritage that's still alive today.

 The Maine Potato is one of the main agricultural crops in the area, and is the largest agricultural crop in Maine.  Potatoes are planted in huge fields and are harvested at the end of summer. Schools close down for three weeks so that students may help with the annual potato harvest.  Some farmers still use the historic method of harvesting by hand with baskets and barrels, but most farmers now use mechanized harvesters. Fort Fairfield even has an annual Potato Blossom Festival, where family farming is celebrated. The festival is in its 47th year.
 
 

Among the many historical attractions in the Aroostook County area are the Acadian Village, The Allagash Historical Society, and The Oakfield Railroad Museum.

The Oakfield Railroad Museum is a former Bangor and Aroostook Railroad depot that has been restored by the Oakfield Historical Society.  It was operated as a railroad station until the early 1960's, when rail passanger transportation was discontinued.  It opened as a museum in 1991.  Everything is as it was when the station was built in 1910 by the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad.  Today is one of three remaining wood frame railroad stations between Searsport and Fort Kent. The museum's exhibits include hundreds of photographs dating back to the beginning of the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad in 1891. This railroad was built through some of the most rugged terrain in the East. They also have vintage signs and advertising pieces, signal lanterns, original railroad maps, telegraph equipment, newspapers
 chronicling the area's history, the weathervane from Oakfield's water tank, a rail motor car, restored mail carts and a rejuvenated C-66 caboose.
 
 

At the Acadian Village, located in Van Buren, are several buildings that have been moved from places throughout Aroostook County to land donated to the Living Heritage Society of Van Buren. They have an 1880 schoolhouse, and chapel, and general store, a railway station, a house with moss insulation, and many more buildings.  The Village was named  the State of Maine's "Best Bicentennial Project" and given a citation by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.  It is also is registered in the National Register of Historic Places in Washington D.C. and has been recognized as a Historic National Landmark. It is one of the largest historical sites in Maine.  Here you can learn about the history of the Acadian People.  The Acadians originally came from France to settle in Nova Scotia (Acadia) in the 16th and 17th centuries.  In 1755 they were deported by the English Goverment to all points of North America and Canada, and some of them settled in the St. John Valley.

The Allagash Historical Society is housed in a log house, and has many photos and information on local lumbering and military.  They can be reached at 207-398-3335, or Rt. 161, Allagash, Maine  04774.
 
 

Canoing the St. John River is a classic Maine springtime adventure.  In the summer you can navigate the Allagash and the West Branch of the Penobscot River, too.  One company, Allagash Canoe Trips, has guided five- and seven-day trips where they teach you to paddle and guide you through the river from their base in Greenville.

In March, you can even attend the CAN-AM International Sled Dog Races.
 
 

There are three races, 250 miles, 60 miles and 30 miles, for sled dog racers of different abilities.  The race starts from Main St., Fort Kent and continues through Portage Lake, St. John, St. Francis, and Allagash before it loops back to Fort Kent. Over $36,000 are given out in prizes between the three races.  The CAN-AM Crown Sled Dog Race is the longest sled dog race in the eastern United States.  The first race was held in 1993, with nine teams from Maine, Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick, Canada.  Weather conditions were severe with a 24 hour blizzard and temperatures of 32 degrees below zero!  In the March 2000 race, 54 teams participated.  The weather was much better, with temperatures of 28F to 33F.  The 250 mile race was completed in 41 hours, 8 minutes, by Don Hibbs of Millinocket, Maine.

 back to Virtual Tour