Atlantic Highway: Exploration in Maine

To start this blog I should first explain that the historic Atlantic Highway came into existence as the network of roads connecting the major eastern cities which grew up along the fall line where the Piedmont of the Appalachians meets and drops down to the coastal plains. The major eastern cities are located along the fall line because that is where rivers have rapids and generated the power needed to run the mills in the old days.

The Atlantic Highway, eventually, was designated U.S. Route 1 and runs from the Canadian border at Front Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida. In other words, the Atlantic Highway connects the northern-most point to the southern-most point on the east coast of the United States.

The section of the Atlantic Highway that is part of my daily life is along the coast of Maine from Portland to Brunswick to Thomaston, Rockland, Bangor, Ellsworth, Machias, Lubec, Eastport, to Houlton. From Brunswick to Ellsworth is known as the Mid-Coast, and to the east of Ellsworth, is called Downeast Maine.

As can be imagined, there is a huge treasure of history and historic places in the Mid-coast and Downeast. Every old road that connects to Atlantic Highway has a story to tell and old ruins to explore. For instance, Thomaston was settled in 1605 and the Mayflower didn't arrive until 1620, and the Jamestown Settlement started in 1607. The Mayflower is believed to have stopped at Monhegan Island, Maine to purchase processed fish from a colony. And, of course, the American Indians were here long before the rest of us.

I will photograph some of the Maine history I find and post it on this blog for all of you.