Circle Tour to Lubec, Maine

We took an all day (259 mile) road trip east following the Atlantic Coast as far as the most easterly point in the United States circling back through Moosehorn NWR and returning via inland road State Highway 9. 

Fort Machias/Fort O'Brien State Historic Site

Fort Machias was built in 1775, at the mouth of the Machias River, immediately after the first naval battle of the American Revolution.  This state historic site is one of few Maine forts active during three wars -- the American Revolution, War of 1812 and the Civil War.  During the Civil War, Fort O'Brien was built over the ruins of the old Fort Machias.

 Lost Fisherman's Memorial

We arrived in Lubec around lunch time so we had our picnic lunch overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Because of Covid-19 border closure we couldn't cross the short bridge to Campobello Island in New Brunswick to visit Roosevelt/Campobello International Park where FDR vacationed in the summer.

Lost Fisherman's Memorial

Mulholland Point Lighthouse on Campobello Island in New Brunswick

 West Quoddy Head Lighthouse 

This lighthouse sits at the most easterly point of the United States. The current tower, with distinctive red and white stripes was constructed in 1858, at a cost of $5000. There is a museum and Visitor's Center that were closed. 

Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

During a brief stop here we learned that this was the site of a 1604 French settlement, one of the first European settlements on the north Atlantic coast. The French assumed the climate would be similar, however the settlers knew nothing of the Artic air flow from the north and quickly discovered they were not prepared for a North America winter. Trapped and cut off from the mainland, almost half of the settlers perished. In the spring the survivors successfully moved and settled inland.