Maine history

1890/Maine Historical Society Maine grows rapidly, bring land speculation as well as prosperity from lumbering, shipbuilding, shipping, and related activities.

The observatory was erected in the spring of 1891 by Albert T. Fuller -- investing $6,500 himself into the construction.

1910/Maine Maritime Museum Maine's long coastline, good harbors, timber supply, and proximity to Europe made it a leader in shipbuilding and shipping and its well-positioned rivers offered more transportation options.

Prohibition election card, 1911/Maine Historical Society Mainers have been leaders in national politics, reform, protest, and social movements from the area's earliest history.

1915/Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum The state's geology and geography have contributed to a resource-based economy and lifestyle.

Due to a long stretch of drought-like conditions that began in the summer of 1947, a series of subsequent fires destroyed more than 200,000 acres in what became known as “the year Maine burned.”

Since 1970, however, one-third of the state’s southern coastal counties have recorded accelerating growth rates, increased residential and commercial construction, and increased revenues.

The Ice Storm of 1998, which knocked out power to half of the state for more than two weeks in January and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, is considered to be one of the worst natural disasters in Maine’s history.