Discover Our History

Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway

The Kennebec – Chaudière International Corridor is an historic, cultural corridor that unites the Province of Quebec and the State of Maine. One of the unique features setting Maine apart from other regions of the country is its connection with Quebec, Canada. Maine’s history, culture and even geography are closely tied to the French Canadian province. The highways linking Maine and Quebec (Route 173 in Quebec and Route 201 in Maine), the Kennebec and Chaudière Rivers, and their surrounding towns are known as the Kennebec – Chaudière International Corridor. The corridor is divided into the following five zones (from South to North): Tidewater of Kennebec, Central Kennebec River, Forest Highlands, The Beauce, and Quebec City. The Central River and Forest Highlands zones run throughout the Kennebec and Moose River Valleys region. We welcome you to travel along these routes to experience memories that will last a lifetime.

Old Fort Western

Route 201 follows old river trading routes of the Abenaki tribe. Benedict Arnold made part of the interconnected network of waterways famous during the Revolutionary War when he led a tough band of soldiers up the Kennebec and Dead Rivers in flat bottomed boats called bateaux to lay siege to the French settlement at Quebec. Old Fort Western is located on the banks of the Kennebec River in Augusta. Built in 1754, it is a National Historic Landmark and America’s oldest surviving wooden fort. Old Fort Western was the staging point for Benedict Arnold and his troops before he headed up the river valley.
Old Fort Western
16 Cony St., Augusta, Maine
207-626-2385 • www.OldFortWestern.org

Maine's Maple Tradition

Somerset County, in the heart of our region, produces more maple syrup than any other county in the United States. Late winter and early spring is maple season when maple producers in Maine tap trees, collect sap, boil it down to syrup and make the syrup into other products like maple sugar, maple candy, maple cream and other specialty products. You can visit many Maine producers to see how the syrup is made and can sample some products at many sugarhouses on the fourth Sunday in March, Maine Maple Sunday. Learn more about Maine’s maple tradition and get delicious recipes at http://www.getrealmaine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/calendar.detail/event_id/8/index.htm

Maine State Museum

Something new always awaits you at the Maine State Museum. Whether they occupy a richly-textured 5,600 square foot gallery or a few intimate cases, these exhibits all feature great stories, lots of opportunities for discovery and learning, and stunning objects from the museum's world-class collections. Visit us at MaineStateMuseum.org