The Acadian Cross Historic Shrine is a 14-foot-tall marble cross and represents the first cross erected by the first Acadian settlers in 1785. The Acadian Landing Site commemorates the arrival of the first Acadian settlers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Acadian History in Buildings and Places
The Acadian Village in Van Buren comprises 17 buildings, seven of which are historic buildings, and the village is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Our Lady of Assumption Chapel in the village is a replica of an early 18th-century log church. Another glimpse into history can be found at the Acadian Landing and Tante Blanche Museum complex, which includes a 19th-century schoolhouse and the Fred Albert House.
The Tante Blanche Museum itself is a wooden building from the 1970s. It was named in honor of Marguerite Blanche Thibodeau Cyr, commemorating her actions during the famine of 1797. The Fort Kent Blockhouse combines historical significance with a clear museum function: it is a National Historic Landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and serves as a museum. It is also the only fortification associated with the “Bloodless” Aroostook War of 1838 to 1839.
Lumber, Agriculture, and Natural Science
The Patten Lumbermen’s Museum displays a Lombard Steam Log Hauler, of which only 83 were made in the early 20th century. The history of logging in Maine unfolds there through a range of topics: bateaux used to transport supplies, stories of river drivers, life in remote logging camps, and the role of bean-hole beans. The museum is located along the Katahdin Scenic Byway.
In the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum, the model potato house room displays old potato sacks, seed cutters, sorting machines and scales, as well as photographs and memorabilia related to the potato harvest. Natural science takes center stage at the Northern Maine Museum of Science: its exhibits cover chemistry, physics, agriculture, forestry, and biology. The museum also maintains a nature trail on campus. The Nylander Museum of Natural History was founded in 1939.
Waterways and Outdoor Trails
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway stretches 92 miles from Telos Dam to Twin Brook in Allagash Village. Chase Rapids, a Class II whitewater section, is within the waterway below Churchill Dam. The length of the water route and a specifically named whitewater section are distinct points of reference.
Guides in Aroostook County offer guided canoe and kayak trips. Confirm the availability of individual guides before your trip. Deboullie Public Land in Aroostook County has 30 miles of hiking trails. Aroostook State Park offers primitive camping and day use; a six-mile snowshoe trail leads to the summit of Quaggy Jo Mountain. Check current conditions before visiting.
Winter Trails and Larger Sports Offerings
The Aroostook Valley Trail is 28 miles long and connects Presque Isle, Caribou, Washburn, Woodland, and New Sweden. In winter, it is used for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. Aroostook County also has more than 2,000 miles of groomed and mapped snowmobile trails. These figures refer to different offerings: a named connection and a regional snowmobile trail network.
Every winter, Aroostook County hosts cross-country skiing and biathlon competitions at World Cup and National Cup levels. Alongside the trails, recurring winter sports competitions are also part of the region’s offerings.
Discover more destinations: Presque Isle, Caribou, Caswell, Somerset, Knox, York, Sagadahoc County, Franklin County.
For the main travel overview: Maine.
