Nestled in the scenic Kennebec River Valley, Skowhegan is an up-and-coming town with a vibrant history—from the Native Americans who were the original inhabitants, to the 19th- and 20th-century river drivers who annually drove logs down the Kennebec, to the evolving community of makers, doers, and innovators who, like those before them, genuinely love life in Central Maine.
Settled in 1773 and traversed by Benedict Arnold in 1775, Skowhegan today continues
to be a crossroads as well as a county seat and the gateway to the Maine woods. Skowhegan is nationally known as the home of Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of the U.S. Congress. Skowhegan is also the home of the Skowhegan State Fair, the nation’s oldest consecutively running agricultural fair.
Downtown Skowhegan is watched over by the world’s tallest Native American, a 62-foot wooden sculpture crafted by renowned Maine artist Bernard Langlais and “dedicated to the Maine Indians, the first people to use these lands in peaceful ways.” A destination on the Langlais Art Trail, Skowhegan hosts 25 smaller Langlais artworks as well.
In recent years the town has become an agricultural food hub. It’s home to a year-round farmers’ market, organic grain purveyor Maine Grains, the annual Kneading Conference and Artisan Bread Fair, two craft breweries, one of New England’s best orchards, numerous farms, a CSA, and restaurants that serve local harvest. Skowhegan is also the seat of Somerset County—the nation’s leading maple syrup producer.
Throughout the town’s history, the Kennebec has been Skowhegan’s lifeblood. After the final log drive, in 1976, some river drivers turned to whitewater rafting to continue their way of life on the river. Now Skowhegan annually hosts River Fest to celebrate recreation and life on the
Kennebec—and as the town looks to the future, the river will continue to play a critical role. The town’s plans include the creation of the Run of River Whitewater Recreation Area in and around the river gorge, with features including a whitewater park, a four-season trail system, a riverfront promenade, and pristine fishing waters with improved fish habitat.
Add to that recent achievements such as the conversion of a former county jail into the Somerset Grist Mill, the Debe Park River Walk and Philbrick Trails, and new events to complement old traditions—and it’s easy to see that Skowhegan is a place to watch.
For more about Skowhegan, explore this site or view a PDF of the Skowhegan Visitors’ Guide.