1. Maine's first national park was established on April 12, 1916.
On April 12, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that established Lafayette National Park, the first national park east of the Mississippi River. The park was renamed Acadia National Park in 1929 and is now one of Maine's most popular outdoor destinations.
2. The first European settlement in Maine was established on April 12, 1604.
French explorer Samuel de Champlain and his crew established a settlement on Saint Croix Island on April 12, 1604. The settlement was short-lived, as the colonists were unable to adapt to the harsh Maine winter and many died of scurvy.
3. Maine's State House was dedicated on April 12, 1832.
Maine's State House, located in Augusta, was dedicated on April 12, 1832. The building replaced a smaller State House that had been in use since Maine became a separate state in 1820.
4. The first steamship arrived in Portland Harbor on April 12, 1818.
The Savannah, the first steamship to make a transatlantic crossing, arrived in Portland Harbor on April 12, 1818. The ship had sailed from Savannah, Georgia and made stops in several cities along the east coast before arriving in Maine.
5. Maine's first female senator was born on April 12, 1947.
Olympia Snowe, who served as a Republican senator from Maine from 1995 to 2013, was born in Augusta, Maine on April 12, 1947. Snowe was the first woman to serve in both houses of the Maine State Legislature and the first woman to represent Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives.
5 Fun Facts About April 12 In Maine History
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