History & Culture

Maine Acadian culture can be found everywhere in the St. John Valley in Northern Maine's Aroostook County and across the St. John River in New Brunswick.

It can be seen in the predominance of French names; in the architecture of houses, churches, potato houses, and twin barns; in the cultivation of potatoes and buckwheat; and in local arts. It can be tasted in traditional foods and heard in casual conversations and stage performances.

The Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent can help you learn more about this culture. These regional historical and cultural archives were established in 1989 by an act of the Maine State Legislature. Their mission is to document, preserve, celebrate, and share information about the history and cultural heritage of the St. John Valley. The archives, open to the public, offer services in both English and French.

Enjoy the Web edition of the 1994 National Park Service publication Acadian Culture in Maine, a 92-page report on the history and cultural heritage of Maine's Upper St. John Valley.