Last month, Asa’s World Tour of Maine continued with a quick stop in Columbia Falls, Maine. Originally part of nearby Columbia, Maine, Columbia Falls separated to form its own independent town in 1863. Located on the Pleasant River, the “falls” part of the name is to pay tribute to the rapids there. But as to why either town chose Columbia as their name, well that remains a mystery to us. It could be named for the country, which gained its independence in 1819. But considering the original town of Columbia, Maine was incorporated in 1796, we are guessing that it was named for “Miss Columbia,” who was depicted as the national “personification” of the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
You may not have heard of this small town in Maine, with its population of less than 500 people according to the 2020 census. However, you have seen the heart of this town paying tribute at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. The Wreaths Across America National Office and Museum are located in Columbia Falls, Maine. Each December they deliver tens of thousands of handmade wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, as well as additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. To learn more, or to sponsor a wreath, please visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
Columbia Falls is also known for its vast fields of wild blueberries. So as we made our way home from our vacation last month, we stopped at the Wild Blueberry Land Heritage Center. Located at 1067 US Highway 1, this museum, dedicated to telling the story of Maine’s wild blueberries, is hard to miss. That’s because it is shaped like a ginormous blueberry! Intrigued by this museum, but unable to make the trip to Columbia Falls? Well you’re in luck! You can take a virtual tour at WildBlueberryLand.com, just click on the logo on their website, and you’ll learn all sorts of facts about Maine’s wild blueberries!
Unfortunately, we were just passing through, and our stop in Columbia Falls was brief on our way home from vacation along the Bold Coast of Maine. But we did drive away with one of the best homemade blueberry pies we’ve ever tasted!
