As we continue to celebrate Maine’s 200th anniversary, today I’m sharing fun facts about our official soft drink, Moxie! Created by Mainer, Dr. Augustin Thompson in 1876, this bitter drink was originally marketed as patent medicine called “Moxie Nerve Food.” Thompson wasn’t too far from the truth there. The main ingredient of Moxie, gentian root […]
It’s quite a compliment when a musician writes a song about their favorite city. There’s Frank Sinatra’s iconic tribute to the city that doesn’t sleep in “New York, New York.” Sometimes the song is an honest but not too flattering ode, such as The Standells’ love letter to Boston in “Dirty Water.” And there are […]
Contrary to what Asa believes, Maine’s nickname of “The Pine Tree State” is not because Santa prefers Christmas trees from Maine. Rather our state earned its nickname from its extensive pine forests, and the prominent role that tree played in our history. In fact long before we earned our other nickname of “Vacationland,” Maine’s forests […]
As we continue our celebration of Maine’s 200th anniversary, today we are sharing the rags to riches history of lobsters! Lobsters are now considered a delicacy, but it wasn’t always that way. This lobster tale is all about supply, demand, and changing perceptions. Early explorers to New England marveled that lobsters were so plentiful that […]
2020 not only marks the 200th anniversary of Maine’s statehood, it is also the 100th anniversary of the 18th Amendment that banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. The National Prohibition Amendment was later repealed, but did you know Maine was a leading force in the passage of this […]
As we continue our celebration of Maine’s 200th anniversary, we’d like to share this often overlooked Civil War event. When asked about Maine during the Civil War, most historians will tell you about Joshua Chamberlain’s role in the valiant stand taken by the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Little Round Top during the Battle […]
Normally as Memorial Day weekend approaches I’d share a long list of all the dog friendly beaches in New England. However, there is nothing normal about this year. As states begin reopening, here in Maine many beaches and hiking trails remain closed this long holiday weekend, some are only open to town residents with proper […]
As we continue to celebrate Maine’s 200th anniversary, I thought I’d share with you the story behind the name that has become synonymous with the state, L.L. Bean. Today L.L. Bean is known for its outdoor clothing and sporting equipment. Its catalogs are mailed around the world, and its flagship store in Freeport, Maine draws […]
While we’re all staying at home and following the social distancing guidelines, our friends at the Maine State Archives have decided to bring one of our favorite dog friendly places to you! They have created a virtual reality tour of Fort Knox in Prospect, Maine. Named for Major General Henry Knox, America’s first Secretary of War, […]
This Sunday, March 15, 2020, is the 200th anniversary of Maine becoming a state! However, there is one mystery about Maine that has yet to be solved. Where did the name come from? Some historians theorize that it was named Maine by the French who first settled here in 1604. However, at that time, they […]