Maine
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums

The largest of the six states in the New England region, Maine is also the most sparsely populated state east of the Mississippi River. At the time of European contact in the 16th century, the area was inhabited predominantly by Algonquian-speaking peoples like the Mi’kmaq and Abenaki. The 17th and early 18th centuries saw conflict between the French and British for control of the area, with the latter ultimately proving victorious. Maine then became a district of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in this capacity joined the new United States after the American Revolution. It only split to form its own state in 1820. Today, Maine is renowned for its natural beauty and for being home to the Acadia National Park.