7 Beautiful Lumber-Era Towns In Maine

When Europeans arrived in what is now known as New England, they likely stood in awe of the Eastern White Pines of Maine, which reach two hundred feet in height. Maine is also known as the Pine Tree State, and what is perhaps seen as a humble tree elsewhere is the center of this state’s history. Logging in Maine gained some traction during the early 1600s, and by 1634, South Berwick boasted the first water-powered sawmill in the state. Other towns followed suit, and by 1832, Bangor was the largest lumber shipping port. Around three thousand ships would anchor here at the peak of the lumber era, and by 1888, 8,737,628,202 board feet of lumber had been shipped from this town.

Many of the communities and small towns in Maine wear their lumber history proudly today. They honor the overall Maine identity shaped by forests and rivers, but most of all, they honor the men and women who gave their all for the timber and paper industries that built entire towns. Below are seven beautiful lumber-era towns that keep Maine’s history alive for all who pass through and those who choose to stay.

Millinocket

Millinocket was established in March 1901 and was built specifically to serve the Great Northern Paper Company. This company built one of the most advanced paper mills here, allowing the town to grow alongside the local lumber industry. The industry was supported by massive tracts of northern Maine forest and a huge hydroelectric system engineered to power pulp and paper production. Millinocket was central to Maine’s log-drive culture for many decades, with timber harvested in the North Woods transported via the West Branch of the Penobscot River and sorted in river drives before being fed into the mills. The lumber era declined in the 1970s when truck transport took over.

Today, you can learn more at the Millinocket Historical Society Museum, where you will find a timeline of Millinocket’s history as well as that of the Great Northern Paper Company. The museum is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the year, weather permitting. And, if the weather happens to be good, or you visit during spring or summer, there are lots of outdoor activities to enjoy in Millinocket, too. You can head to the Northern Outdoors’ Katahdin Adventure Base Camp, find lodging for the night or a few days, and then go boating or river rafting on the stunning Penobscot River. During the fall, the colors of the trees on the river shore are simply breathtaking. Should you be in Millinocket during winter, there is ample opportunity for snowmobiling on local and even regional trails. You can also go snowshoeing or skiing, if you do not want to join the Millinocket Marathon, which takes place every December.

East Millinocket

East Millinocket, a small town just thirteen minutes away from Millinocket, was founded in 1907 after Great Northern Paper opened a second, larger mill called the Lower Mill. The mill helped meet the ever-increasing demand for newsprint, and so the entire town was designed around mill operations. It included structured worker housing like ‘Shack Village’ and commercial buildings. The town also had rail access built to ensure a steady flow of spruce and fir from Maine’s inland forests. Like Millinocket, it relied on the annual log drives on the Penobscot. Millions of logs were transported until the last drives ended in 1971. Then, for most of the 20th century, East Millinocket was known for producing high-grade magazine and catalog paper. The paper industry's downturn over time brought major changes, but in 2025, the community’s mill-town heritage remains.

East Millinocket is still known as ‘the town that paper made.’ The old mill site has been acquired and has been undergoing refurbishment since 2024. Plans for the new premises include a logistics company and a biorefinery. As for things to do and experience in this pretty town, you can explore the vast North Woods, where you will find rustic cabins for lodging. The Golden Road, which you can access by driving back to Millinocket, leads to the woods, and you would need to pay specific fees for day use and camping. After an exhilarating day out, head back to East Millinocket to Mooseshack on Main Street for a great pizza dinner or excellent BBQ.

Old Town

Old Town’s lumber heritage began in the early 19^th century. At the time, sawmills were springing up rapidly along the Penobscot and Stillwater Rivers. These waterways were ideal for both powering the mills and transporting valuable timber. Logging quickly expanded throughout the Penobscot watershed, and Old Town became a strategic spot for sorting and processing logs. These logs would then be transported downstream to Bangor. In 1898, the Old Town Canoe Company was founded, which used locally sourced cedar and spruce to build strong canoes. Old Town’s canoes were eventually internationally recognized for their high-quality canoes. The company transformed into a major outdoor brand after being acquired by Johnson Outdoors in 1974. At the same time, the town continued its traditional milling activities into the 20^th century.

You can still visit the Old Town Canoe Visitor Center and Factory Store today. And, you can also view extensive exhibits on the town’s logging and settlement history at the Old Town Museum. Old Town is a stunning place, so make sure to take in the outdoors while you are there. You can hike the trails of the Orono Bog Boardwalk while keeping an eye out for wildlife and unique plants. Or, you can swim and fish for bass and chain pickerel at the nearby Pushaw Lake.

Bangor

The well-known town of Bangor was one of the world's most significant lumber ports in the mid-19^th century. As such, it earned itself the nickname ‘The Lumber Capital of the World.’ As mentioned, logs harvested in the Maine interior were floated down the Penobscot to Bangor, where dozens of sawmills turned them into boards that were shipped nationwide and overseas. In the 1860s, Bangor exported huge volumes of timber to the Caribbean, Europe, and major U.S. ports. The timber industry was directly responsible for Bangor’s prosperity and helped fund its Victorian mansions and ornate public buildings. Later, Bangor incorporated modern industries into its economy, but the town’s old lumber wealth will never be separated from its identity.

Bangor is one of Maine’s larger towns, and its timber hub status is immediately obvious to visitors just by looking at the massive statue of the legendary lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, on Main Street. There is a lot more to see and do in this beautiful town, including walking along the Bangor Waterfront Trail, which snakes past several sculptures. At the City Forest, you can run, bike, hike, ski, or snowshoe depending on the season. And, since you are in Bangor, which is the inspiration for Stephen King’s Derry, you might as well take a Stephen King tour that takes visitors to the iconic locations that inspired the horror author’s most memorable novels.

Bucksport

Bucksport’s development in the late 1700s and early 1800s was centered on sawmills along the Penobscot River. The tidal flow powered the milling machinery, and, as in other towns, the river provided a means of transportation for logs and timber products. As Maine expanded its interior logging industry, Bucksport became a processing site and shipbuilding town. Companies would ship sawn lumber and completed vessels along the coast. By the 20^th century, the Bucksport community shifted with the inevitable shift in industry to pulp and paper manufacturing. This happened after the Verso Paper mill opened in the 1930s and became one of the town’s biggest employers. The mill closed in 2014, but Bucksport still features the original layout and waterfront that shaped two centuries of the lumber and lumber-related industry.

The Bucksport Historical Society operates the Paper Mill Museum on Main Street. The museum is housed in the gatehouse, where you enter the premises, and it offers exhibits, including photos, documents, and artifacts that once belonged to mill workers. Bucksport is also one of Maine’s most charming towns, so make some time to visit Fort Knox to get tickets to see the Penobscot Narrows Bridge from the 437-foot bridge observatory. It is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and is open between May and October. And, if you visit during July, you can also catch the Bucksport Bay Festival, which features a parade, live music, and fireworks along the breathtaking waterfront.

Machias

The coastal mill town of Machias became one of eastern Maine’s earliest lumber centers in the mid-1700s. At the time, sawmills were being established along the Machias River to enable workers to process timber from inland forests. By the early 1800s, several water-powered mills produced lumber for building boats and for coastal trade. This ensured that the town became a valuable exporter of sawn wood and ship masts. Seeing how significant the lumber trade was to the economy, British forces attempted to disrupt the industry during the American Revolution. This led to the 1775 Battle of Machias, often cited as one of the first naval engagements of the war.

Machias continued to build its lumber fame until industries diversified in the 20^th century to include blueberry processing and seafood harvesting. Today, Machias is still known for its blueberries (not surprising since the town is in the middle of the blueberry belt and Maine is the top producer of blueberries). You can celebrate the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival with the locals each August, which features a pie-eating contest, a parade, and a musical comedy centered on blueberries. While you are in town, you can also experience more of Machias’ gorgeous outdoor offerings, including the nearby Fort O’Brien State Historic Park in Machiasport at the mouth of the Machias River. The park sits atop an earthwork overlooking the river and features a Civil War-era bronze cannon. If you visit during winter, you can also ski or snowmobile on the Down East Sunrise Trail, which runs through Machias.

Lincoln

The last beautiful lumber-era town on this list is the picturesque Lincoln. Lincoln took shape in the 1820s as a mill settlement along the Penobscot and Mattanawcook Stream. Thirteen lakes surround the town, making it ideal for transporting logs from the forests to the Penobscot system back then. Lincoln hosted sawmills, logging camps, and, later, pulp operations that were heavily dependent on locally harvested spruce and fir. River drives, flumes, and mill labor defined Lincoln throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries, and this history remains preserved for visitors and locals.

At the Lincoln Historical Society and Museum, you can view and learn more about this history. The organization collects artifacts, photographs, maps, and documents that highlight the town’s logging and lumbering past. After visiting the museum, you can head to Mattanawcook Pond for swimming or fishing. The lakeside park here, Prince Thomas Park, offers a public beach, boat launches, and picnic areas for a fun day out.

Maine’s Lumber History Lives On

If you have always wanted to know more about Maine’s history, these lumber-era towns will show you a side of the state that is deeply rooted in that industry. Over the centuries, these towns have changed and grown, but the events and stories of the old timber industry are still alive and well in museums and historic buildings. So, when you explore Maine’s lumber towns, take a moment to reflect on the hard work that made these places what they are today. And then see how the past and present combine to give each town a unique and inviting character that you simply cannot resist.