Explore the Top of New England
Experience the beauty of Maine’s Aroostook County, the most northeasterly corner of the United States!
The Saint John Valley / Fish River National Scenic Byway is more than a working route; it’s a cultural journey. Those who find themselves in this variegated landscape will be warmly welcomed as they traverse captivating river valleys and explore a special borderland recognized for its vibrant townships, rolling farmlands, old-growth forests, and rich multicultural heritage.
Hewn from an array of political conflicts and border disputes, histories of migration and forced exile, and cross-cultural entanglement and intermingling, the historical and cultural remnants preserved here are testaments to a long durée of past struggles and triumphs. The Upper Saint John and Fish River Valleys are a unique place in America, whose diverse communities celebrate their ancestry, traditions . The Byway carves through , ensuring all are able to explore the unceded homelands of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq, and the historic settlements that remain home to Acadian, French-Canadian (Québécois), Scots-Irish, and Swedish communities.
From early Spring to late Autumn, the region celebrates grand festivals while the doors of museums and historic sites fling open to reveal these traditions . Hear the local French, see towering churches dotting the landscape, indulge in traditional stews and ployes,
Visitors to the Upper Saint John and Fish River Valleys will leave with a lasting impression – one that will surely lead them to return once more!
Places to Be & Sites to See
The Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel isn’t Northern Maine’s only must-see site!
The Acadian Village
Travel back in time and immerse yourself in the rich Francophone culture and heritage of the Valley!
The Acadian Village, located just beyond Van Buren, Maine, is a living history museum where visitors can wander through historic homes, and experience unique, hands-on activities and demonstrations in learning about the Valley’s Acadian families.
Acadian Landing & Tante Blanche Museum
Venture to a commemorative site marking the landing point of the first Acadians who settled the region of the upper Saint John River in 1785!
Explore the grounds that witnessed the Acadians’ arrival, and step into a museum dedicated to the memory of a Valley heroine!
Le Club Français
Le Club Français is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the local French language of the Saint John Valley that has historically flourished among the region’s Acadian and Franco-American families.
See how Le Club Français raises awareness and demonstrates the cultural, linguistic, and economic value of the local French language to people of all ages across Northern Maine!
Sainte Agathe Historical Society
The Sainte Agathe Historical Society preserves and cherishes the history of working-class life across Maine’s northern borderland.
Alongside its exhibits of photographs and artifacts spanning from the late-19th to the mid-20th century, visitors have a chance to see the historic Pelletier-Marquis House and the Longfellow School!
The Acadian Archives
Located at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the Acadian Archives documents, preserves, and celebrates the culture, way of life, and history of the Franco-American and Acadian people of the Upper Saint John River.
Dive in to a diverse collection of manuscript materials, audio-visual documents, and records on regional history, genealogy, folklore and folklife.
Fort Kent Blockhouse
Located at the confluence of the Fish River and the Saint John River in Fort Kent, the Blockhouse is the only remaining fortification in the Valley relating to the “Bloodless” Aroostook War of 1838 – 1839.
Explore this remarkable example of 19th-century military architecture and learn of the border dispute between Great Britain and the United States that led to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842.
Portage Lake & the North Maine Woods
Explore the rich heritage of the Portage Lake community and experience deep forestlands home to stunning panoramic views and incredible wildlife!
Walk upon terrain once visited by Theodore Roosevelt, blanketed by bustling logging developments, and discover a place perfectly coveted for backcountry expeditions!
Allagash Historical Society Museum
Discover _ at the gateway to the Allagash Wilderness!
See an array of object exhibits that tell the story of the Scottish and Irish communities that settled the Upper Saint John River watershed in the early-19th century.
Plan Your Aroostook Adventure
Learn more about the many historic sites, museums, and points of interest along the 134-mile route that is the Saint John Valley / Fish River National Scenic Byway by visiting the organization websites below!
Find all you need to know for where to stay, places to eat, details on events and festivities, how to get around and important travel information, and much more!
