The Cobscook Bay area's great diversity of bird habitats and vast array of bird life are special attractions for visitors throughout the year and reasons enough to join us during spring migration and the early breeding season for the Annual Down East Spring Birding Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. But there is more here for you to enjoy as well. In the area and nearby are museums and historic sites, the Passamaquoddy tribe, national and state wildlife refuges, state parks, hiking trails, the Old Sow and Reversing Falls, as well as a half dozen lighthouses that you can visit while you're here. Whether you come a few days early, stay a few days late, or just visit a few area attractions in your spare time during the birding festival, you can look forward to an enjoyable and enriching experience. 

MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES

There are over two dozen museums and historic sites Down East. Several will be open during the birding festival or will open in June. The following sites should be open to visitors during at least part of the four-day Memorial Day Weekend.

Milbridge

Milbridge Museum. Home to the town's historical society, the museum contains displays of the town's history and shipbuilding. (Open weekend afternoons).

Columbia Falls

Ruggles House Museum. Home to a 19th century lumber baron, the Federal-style house has period furnishings and a "flying staircase." Tours. (Open daily from June 1).

Machias

Burnham Tavern Museum. This is the oldest building in eastern Maine and the only one with a Revolutionary War history. Period furnishings. Guided tours. (Open Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 beginning in June). Maine Museums & Archives — Burnham Tavern Museum

Machiasport

Fort O'Brien State Historic Site. Rte 92 south of Machias. Overlooks the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolutionary War during which Patriots captured the HMS Margaretta.. Open Memorial Day - Labor Day. Maine Archives & Museums — Fort O'Brien State Historic Site
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands — Fort O'Brien State Historic Site

Machias Bay

Indian Petroglyphs. These 1,500-year old pictographs can be seen by boat.

Lubec

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and Visitor Center. Located in the restored lightkeeper's house next to the famous red-and-white striped lighthouse in Quoddy Head State Park. Contains displays, photos, and artwork about the history of the lighthouse and the Down East coast. (Open daily 10:00-4:00 EDT).

Campobello Island, New Brunswick

Roosevelt Campobello International Park. World's only jointly-administered, binational, international park. Home to a visitor center, gardens, and the Roosevelt's 34-room summer cottage. (Open daily 9:00-5:00 EDT; 10:00-6:00 ADT).

Eastport

Barracks Museum. Formerly a barracks on the grounds of Eastport's Fort Sullivan, this building now is a museum with information about Eastport area history. Open afternoons June-August.

 

Old Sow Whirlpool. The largest whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere. Located in the waters between Eastport and Deer Island, New Brunswick.

 

Quoddy Maritime Museum & Visitor Center. Contains displays and photos of Eastport area history, including a model of the proposed 1930s tidal power plant. (Open Monday-Saturday June-September)

 

Raye's Mustard Mill Museum. This is America's last operating stone-ground mustard mill. Tours are available.

 

Eastport Info — Day Trips

Maine Museums & Archives — Border Historical Society

 

Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation (Sipayik)

Waponahki Museum and Resource Center. In Sipayik, the Passamaquoddy Reservation, on Rte 190 between Perry and Eastport. Contains Passamaquoddy artifacts and cultural resources. (Open Monday-Friday) See also Maine Museums & Archives — Waponahki Museum and Resource Center

Perry

45th Parallel Marker. Located in a state turnout along the west side of US 1 north of Rte 190, this stone marker shows the midway point between the Equator and the North Pole.

Calais

St. Croix Island International Historic Site. This site off US 1 at Red Beach (and a parallel site across the St. Croix River in Canada) tells the story of the first French settlement in the New World in 1604. Major events are taking place during 2004-2005 in celebration of the settlement's 400th anniversary.
Ste-Croix 2004
US National Park Service - St. Croix Island
Parks Canada - Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

 

Downeast Heritage Museum. This major interpretive cultural center opened in the spring of 2004. Containing a theater and four thematic, interactive areas, it tells the story of the history and culture of the area. (Open daily).

St. Stephen, New Brunswick

Chocolate Museum. Sets forth the history of chocolate-making in St. Stephen, and the Ganong Chocolate Company. Tours, displays, demonstrations, and free samples. (Open Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00 EDT; 9:00-5:00 ADT)

 

Charlotte County Museum. Displays on the history of St. Stephen and Charlotte County. Special exhibits on lumbering, shipbuilding, and Chinese porcelain. (Open June-September, Monday-Saturday)

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LIGHTHOUSES

There are 12 lighthouses Down East. West Quoddy Light originally was built in 1808, but the present structure was built in 1858. Now the oldest of the Down East lights are Nash Island, Moose Peak, and Libby Island, which were built in the 1820s. The newest structures are Whitlock's Mill Light (1910) and Machias Seal Island Light (1915) - though the latter replaced a structure built in 1832. All the lighthouses can be viewed from the water and most are accessible by boat. In addition, several of the lighthouses can be viewed from land (VL), three are accessible (A) by car/foot, and two are privately owned (P).
Information on each lighthouse can be found at Lighthouse Digest's lighthouse database

• Petit Manan - Maine's second-tallest lighthouse - south of Milbridge (VL)
• Narraguagus (Pond's Island) - south of Milbridge (P)
• Nash Island - south of Addison (VL)
• Moose Peak (Moose-a-Bec) - Maine's foggiest lighthouse - south of Jonesport (VL)
• Libby Island (Machias) - Machias Bay (VL)
• Little River - Cutler (VL)
• Machias Seal Island - Light built and staffed by Canada. Territory has been disputed between the US & Canada since 1812.
• West Quoddy - one of Maine's most-photographed lighthouses - Lubec, ME (A)
• Lubec Channel (Sparkplug) - Lubec, ME (VL)
• Mulholland Point - Campobello Island, NB (A)
• East Quoddy/Head Harbour - New Brunswick's most-photographed lighthouse - Campobello Island, NB (A)
• Whitlock's Mill - Calais (P) (VL)

PUBLIC WILDLIFE AREAS

Maine, Washington County, and the Cobscook Bay area are well-known for their variety of wildlife habitats. Many of these habitats are included in State Parks, State Public Reserved Lands, National Wildlife Refuges, and other public use lands. Several of these areas are noted below.

Steuben-Milbridge

Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This 1,991 acre parcel, located at the end of Pigeon Hill Road, south of US 1, is one of the Refuge's three coastal parcels and 40 offshore islands totaling more than 7,000 acres. This parcel contains two hiking trails and is home to songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Open during daylight hours.

Milbridge

McClellan Park. The town's ten acre coastal park, located on Wyman Road, south of US 1, includes trails, campsites, picnic areas, and toilets. Open during daylight hours.

Columbia-Cherryfield

Great Heath Public Reserved Land. Maine's largest peat bog, the 6,000+ acre Great Heath sits astride the Pleasant River and lies north of US 1 and east of Schoodic Lake. Best traversed by canoe or kayak. Open year round.

Beals Island

Great Wass Island Nature Conservancy Preserve. Comprising almost all of the southern part of the town of Beals, this 1,579 acre preserve contains hiking trails, coastal raised bogs, and rare plants, and is home to a variety of bird life. Open during daylight hours.
Virtual Birder site about Great Wass Island Preserve

East Machias

Rocky Lake Public Reserved Land. This 10,904 acre area typically is used for boating, camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting. Located off Rte 191 north of US 1, it is open year round.

Roque Bluffs

Roque Bluffs State Park. This 274 acre park, located about 6 miles south of Machias, includes a half mile long sandy beach and offers both fresh- and saltwater swimming. It also has grills, a playground, and toilets. Open May 15 - September 30 during daylight hours. No camping. Small admission fee.

Cutler

Bold Coast Public Reserved Land. Located off Rte 191 between Cutler and Lubec, this 12,000 acre parcel typically is used for hiking, primitive camping, and birdwatching. It is open year round.

Lubec

Quoddy Head State Park. The 532-acre park, located at the end of South Lubec Road, contains the eastern-most point of land in the continental USA as well as the famous red and white striped West Quoddy Head Light and Visitor Center, several hiking trails, picnic areas, toilets. Open May 15 - October 15 during daylight hours. No camping. Excellent birdwatching location. Small admission fee.
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands — Quoddy Head State Park
Maine Museums & Archives — Quoddy Head State Park

Edmunds

Cobscook Bay State Park. Open May 15 - October 15, this 888-acre park is frequented by campers and birdwatchers. Park trails are used for hiking and cross-country skiing, and a boat launch also available. The park is located east of US 1 north of Whiting. Small admission fee.

 

Great Works Wildlife Management Area. This 640 acre wildlife area, located off Rte 86 west of Dennysville, is available for hunting and fishing.

 

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge-Edmunds Division. This 8,781-acre division of the well-known refuge is located primarily west of US 1 between Whiting and Dennysville. It is used mostly for hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and other wildlife watching.

Pembroke

Reversing Falls Park. Located off Leighton Point Road east of US 1. Offshore is the "Reversing Falls," a salt water cataract that forms alternately in two directions as the tide flows in and out. Best viewing times are either 2-3 hours before/after high tide or during the hour around low tide.

Eastport

Shackford Head State Park. Accessed via Deep Cove Road, off Rte 190, this 90-acre undeveloped peninsula has several hiking trails, lots of birds, and is open year round during daylight hours.

Perry

Gleason Cove Park. This town park, off Shore Road east of US 1, includes a beach, picnic area, and state boat launch. It is open during daylight hours.

Calais/Baring

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge-Baring Division. This is the refuge's main division, located between Calais and Charlotte-Meddybemps and east of Rte 191. Its 20, 027 acres includes hiking and biking trails, three self-guided interpretive trails, bald eagle nesting sites and a viewing deck, and the headquarters building with public facilities.

Grand Lake Stream

Farm Cove Community Forest. The Downeast Lakes Land Trust manages this 27,000-acre property for wildlife habitat, sustainable forestry, and public recreation. Access is from the village of Grand Lake Stream. The forest includes a 3,560-acre ecological reserve around Fourth Machias Lake, 62 miles of lakeshore on six lakes, extensive wetlands, and diverse forests. The Little Mayberry Cove Trail runs along the west shore of West Grand Lake from the parking area at the dam. The Community Forest and the Downeast Lakes area has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy.