Augusta straddles both sides of the Kennebec River. On the west side are grouped many buildings of architectural and historical interest. The State House Complex includes the State House, Maine's capitol building; Blaine House, the governor's mansion; the Maine State Museum; and the Maine State Library. The State House, a granite structure built in 1829-1832 and enlarged in 1910-1911, is surmounted by a dome topped with a gold-plated statue of the goddess Minerva; representing Augusta, she bears a pine bough torch. Blaine House, located in the capitol complex, was built in 1833 in the Federalist style; it has since been redesigned twice and now represents the semi-Colonial style. At one time the home of James G. Blaine, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 1884 presidential candidate, the mansion was presented to the state in 1919 to be used as the governor's residence. Tours of the State House and Blaine House can be arranged by contacting the Maine State Museum. Greek Revival enthusiasts can visit the Kennebec County Courthouse, built in 1830. Oblate House, designed by noted Maine architect John Calvin Stevens for Governor John Fremont Hill and his wife, a St. Louis native, is constructed of Maine granite and St. Louis brick; of the imposing estates built in the city during the late 1890s and early 1900s, only Oblate House still stands.
Capitol Park, stretching from the State House to the banks of the Kennebec River, offers pleasant vistas and native and exotic trees, shrubs, and ferns. Historically the park is of interest because of its Civil War associations. The park was the encampment for Maine regiments during the war; afterwards the site was conveyed to the city in trust for a Civil War monument. The park is the site of the Maine Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. On the other side of the river guided tours of Old Fort Western, a restored fort dating back to the French and Indian War, are available from mid-June to September. The fort, designated a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest surviving wooden fort in New England. Costumed interpreters on site explain events and customs of the period.
Cultural opportunities in Augusta include a variety of theatrical and musical events. Shakespearean plays are presented at the Theater at Monmouth. The Augusta Symphony performs at various local sites throughout the year.
The natural and social history of Maine is interpreted through exhibits at the Maine State Museum, located in the State House complex. Among its exhibits are "Back to Nature," which depicts environmental habitats; "Maine Bounty" which focuses on the state's natural resources and their use; "12,000 Years in Maine," which features artifacts dating from the Ice Age through the late 1800s; and "Made in Maine" which depicts several nineteenth-century industrial scenes and displays more than 1,000 Maine-made products.
Other museums in Augusta are the Fort Western Museum at the Augusta City Center, which explains the history of the fort; and the Children's Discovery Museum, which offers "hands-on" fun for children through grade five in an interactive environment where exhibits are presented in such settings as a simulated diner, grocery store, post office, film studio, and construction site.
The gala event of the year in the Kennebec Valley, celebrating the clean-up of the Kennebec River, is the Whatever Family Festival. Held from mid June through early July in Augusta, Gardiner, and surrounding towns, the festival features a carnival, tournaments, music, dancing, a parade, and fireworks.
The Maine way of life is celebrated each September at the Common Ground Fair at the fairgrounds in nearby Unity. Sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the fair attracts craftspeople, farmers, and chefs from throughout the state.
The Augusta Recreation Bureau maintains many park facilities available for use by the public, including basketball and tennis courts, ball fields, swimming pools, winter skating rinks, and boat facilities on the Kennebec River. The proximity of hundreds of miles of lakes, ponds, and hills offers recreational opportunities to campers, hikers, and fishing enthusiasts. The Pine Tree State Arboretum, set on 224 acres, provides a great view of the Kennebec Valley at its 2,400-square-foot visitors center, and offers trails through woods and fields. The Kennebec River Rail Trail is a bike trail that runs along the river from Augusta toward Gardiner.
The Marketplace at Augusta, with about 30 stores, is the largest shopping center in the area. In 2005 an expansion of the Marketplace began that will expand its floor space from 750,000 square feet to 960,000 square feet. Other major shopping centers include Turnpike Mall, Augusta Plaza, and Shaw Plaza. A new, 400,000 square-foot shopping center called Augusta Crossing is scheduled to open in 2006, near Turnpike Mall. The city also has a substantial selection of small to medium specialty shops, particularly in the downtown area. The nearby city of Hallowell, classified a National Historical District, is a favorite destination of antique buffs.
Diners in Augusta's restaurants can choose from a variety of fresh Maine seafood, including the state's famous lobster.
Visitor Information: Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 676, Augusta, ME 04332; telephone (207)623-4559