Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Kennebec River Valley sets the town of Skowhegan. Settled in 1773, it’s brimming with American History yet is host to modern businesses such as SAPPI Fine Paper, New Balance Shoe, Howard P. Fairfield, and Redington Fairview General Hospital.

Skowhegan is also nationally known as the home of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman U.S. Senator. The Margaret Chase Smith Library houses the Senator’s memorabilia and serves as a museum and educational center on her life and career.

Downtown Skowhegan, a Mainstreet Maine Community, is watched over by the world’s largest sculptured Indian… a 62 ft. giant crafted by the renowned sculptor Bernard Langlais of Cushing.

When Colonel Benedict Arnold set out in 1775 to take Quebec from the British, he and his troops traveled along the waterways through Skowhegan, and a bronze tablet on the island in the center of town marks their route. Now, as then, Skowhegan’s commercial and industrial development has always revolved around the river gorge that runs through the downtown.

One of the future projects for Skowhegan is the creation of a white water paddling facility in the gorge. This facility will host white water paddling events during the year and will be the corner stone of expanded use of the Kennebec River for recreation in the region.

Located at the junction of US Rte. 2 and Rte.201, and only thirteen miles from Interstate 95, we are easily accessible to everyone, come and visit, come and stay!

Coburn Park has long been a place for families to gather In Skowhegan. With the pond, grand trees, many flower gardens, large lawns and grass covered hills; it is a great place for many activities. It isn’t uncommon to see families picnicking, and children playing catch or somersaulting down the hills of the park. Concerts are held in the bandstand and gazebo during the summer. Coburn Park is a beautiful, historical part of Skowhegan. It is a great “out of the way” place, while located within walking distance of downtown.

Land for a public park, was willed to the Town of Skowhegan by Governor Abner Coburn in 1885. (“to have and to hold” “forever for that purpose.”) In 1889, Commissioners were appointed to oversee the development of the park. As part of this development many species of trees and shrubs were planted over the years. Today there are over 200 different species of trees within the park.

In 1905, the western two fifths of the park’s land was gifted to the Town by Louise H. Coburn, Charles A. Marston, Grace Coburn Smith, Ella M. Pooler, Frances Coburn Pepper and Julia L. Coburn (descendants of Abner’s brother, Philander Coburn). With this additional land, the park is approximately 12 ½ acres.

In 1907 a pond was added to the park. Roads through the park were built; one that circles the park and two that run crosswise intersecting the circle. The lamps at the entrance were bequest to the park by Kate Eaton Oak in memory of her mother, Sarah L. Eaton, who had been a park Commissioner.

Among the flower gardens sits another memorial, a sundial. The sundial was a gift to the park from the Daughters of the American Revolution, to serve as a memorial to Alan W. Buckman, who was killed in Belleau Woods as a Corporal of the High School Squad.

In 1989 the bandstand was added to the park. A gazebo was built in 2000, and dedicated to William Philbrick and William L. Philbrick. Each of these serves as a place for summer concerts and they can be rented for weddings or other functions.

Middle and High School students in Skowhegan have spent a great deal of time researching local history and have compiled much of this information on the MSAD #54 website. Click here to take a look at their hard work.