I direct

"Dirigo"
(I direct)
Maine
The United States of America
James F. Kaserman
Sarah J. Kaserman
Augusta
I Save A Tree
Electronic Books
C 2003 I Save A Tree Inc.
ISBN# 0-9714299-1-X
Table of Contents
Location
__________________________________
5
State
bird
__________________________________
25
History
before statehood
__________________________________
7
State
tree
__________________________________
27
History
since statehood
__________________________________
9
State
flower
__________________________________
29
State
government
__________________________________
11
Famous
people from Maine
__________________________________
31
State
flag
__________________________________
13
Things
to do in Maine
__________________________________
33
Current
facts
__________________________________
15
Popular
sports in Maine
__________________________________
35
Industry
today
__________________________________
17
Fast
facts
__________________________________
37
State
landmarks
__________________________________
19
Glossary
__________________________________
39
Weather
and land
__________________________________
21
Web
sites / books for information
__________________________________
41
Animals
in Maine
__________________________________
23
Index
__________________________________
43
Credits
__________________________________
45
Location
Maine is a New England state.. It
forms the northeastern corner of the
United States. Maine's southern coast
is the Atlantic Ocean.. On the east,
north and northwest it is bordered
by the country of Canada. The only
state that borders Maine is New
Hampshire, which forms the western
border.
Augusta is the capital of Maine.
It is located in the southern part
of the state.
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Augusta
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6
History
Before Statehood
Maine's earliest inhabitants were
descendants of Ice Age hunters. They
were hunters and gatherers.
The Vikings, led by Leif Ericson,
arrived around 1000.
French explorers
followed in1524,
and then, in
1605, the English.
Maine's shipbuilding
_______________________
Colonial schooner
industry was
launched in
1607 with the
first ship. The
earliest naval
battle of the Revolutionary War took
place off the coast of Maine. American
patriots captured a British schooner.
The Maine territory separated from
the Massachusetts colony in the
early 1800s.
Viking longboat
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8
History
Since Statehood
On March 15, 1820, Maine became
the 23rd state to join the U.S. During
the Civil War, Maine fought on the side
of the North. After the war, the textile
and leather
industry grew.
Maine
developed
waterpower
with its fast
running rivers.
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Shipyard
When the textile
industry moved
to the South in
the 1920s, paper
companies took their place. Large
farms in Maine grew potatoes and
sold dairy products.
During World War II, shipbuilders
produced cargo and combat ships.
Old textile mill
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10
Government
_______________________
State capitol building
The state government of Maine is
divided into three branches. Governor
John Baldacci is head of the
executive branch. This branch is in
charge of carrying
out the laws.
The legislature
has two parts,
the Senate and
House of Representatives.
The third
branch is the judicial branch. This
branch interprets the laws.
Maine has 16 counties. Each has its
own local government.
Governor John Baldacci
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12
State Flag
_______________________
Maine's
state flag was
adopted in
1909. The flag
is blue with
the state coat of arms. In the center, a
moose rests under a tall pine tree.
The tree represents the forests in
the state. The moose, the state
animal, represents wildlife.
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Also on the seal, a farmer and a
seaman represent what people did
in early times. The North Star stands
for the state's
northern
location and
the state
motto, "Dirigo,"
meaning "I
direct."
14
Current Facts
_______________________
Maine landscape
Sail boats
Over 1,274,923
people live in
Maine.. The state
is ranked the 40th
largest state for
the number of
people living in it.. Maine covers 30,865
square miles. It is ranked the 39th
largest state in total area in the United
States.. Maine's
nickname, the
"Pine Tree
State," comes
from the pine trees that once dotted
the state's forests.
The coastline boasts so many deep
harbors that all the navies in the world
could anchor in them at one time.
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16
Industry
_______________________
Maine lobster
Today
In agriculture, Maine produces 99%
of all the blueberries in the United
States.. Maine potatoes are world
renowned.. Maine Farms are also famous
for poultry and eggs,
dairy products and
cattle.. Food
processing employs
many people
in Maine.. Seafood,
especially
lobsters, has
made Maine
world famous.
Nearly 90% of
the nation's lobster supply is caught
off the coast of Maine.
Maine is a leader in the manufacture of paper, lumber, electric
equipment, shipbuilding and
textiles. Tourism is now a top industry.
Bluberries
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18
Landmarks
_______________________
National Forest
The White
Mountain
National Forest
covers 800,000
acres. Acadia
National Park is
the second most
visited park in the nation. The Penobscot
Marine Museum houses many historic
buildings and artifacts.. It is located in
Searsport.. Burnham Tavern, where
tourists met in 1775 to plan how to
_______________________
capture the British ship Margaretta,
is a historic site that still stands.
There are many legends and stories
about pirates and buried treasure on
some of Maine's
many Islands.
A 31-foot statue
of the legendary
Paul Bunyan is
in Bangor, Maine.
Paul Bunyan statue
20
Weather & Land
_______________________
Winter sunset
Maine has
cool weather. In
the winter, Arctic
air comes from
the north and
coastal areas making it very cold.. Maine
has only a few warm days in the summer.
Maine's average temperature ranges
from 67° in the summer to 24°
Fahrenheit in winter. The average
yearly precipitation is 40 inches.
The Appalachian Mountains extend
through the state.. Maine has rugged
terrain on
the borders
and long,
sandy beaches
on the
southern coast.
Maine beach
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22
Animals
_______________________
Black bear cub
In Maine
The moose was named the state
animal in 1979.. A bull (the male) may
stand 6 feet high and weigh more than
1,400 pounds.The
males have broad,
flattened antlers.
The antlers are shed
each year after the
mating season.
Moose, joined
by black bear
and deer, roam
the northern
part of the state.. Bobcat, beaver, fox,
mink, raccoon and skunk are also
common.
More than 320 kinds of birds live in
Maine. Thousands also stop there in
early spring and late fall.
Moose
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24
State Bird
_______________________
Chickadee
The chickadee
(Parus atricapillus)
was named the
state bird in 1927.
It is a quick, small
bird commonly seen in the woods and
at backyard feeders. The black-capped
chickadee is gray and white with a
black head and throat. The chickadee
eats beetles and other insects that
can be harmful to farmers' crops.. It's
not unusual to see it hang upside
down from a
branch and
catch its dinner.
The chickadee's
song sounds
like its name.
Chickadee
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26
State Tree
_______________________
New sprouts
White pine
The eastern
white pine (Pinus
strobus) was named
the state tree in
1945.. It was the
most important
forest tree in North America until about
1890. The wood was used for houses
and shipbuilding, especially ship
masts. Some
trees are 200
feet tall. It is
considered the largest conifer in the
northeastern U.S. The white pine has
soft, blue-green needles that grow in
bunches of five.
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28
State Flower
_______________________
The pine cone and tassel from the
white pine tree (Pinus strobus) was
named the state
flower in 1895. The
woody cone is
actually the fruit
of the white
pine tree.
The cone is about 5 inches long,
usually curved. It takes two years to
mature.. Cone
scales are thin
and never have
prickles. Cones
also have a
fragrant,
gummy resin.
Pine cone and tassels
Pine cone
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30
Famous People
_______________________
Stephen King
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one
of America's most famous poets, was
born in Portland.. Longfellow wrote
many poems; one of the most famous is
called "The Song of
Hiawatha."
Senator Margaret
Chase Smith from
Maine was the first
woman to be nominated to run for U.S.
President.
Edmund Muskie
was also a famous
senator and
Presidential
candidate from
Maine.
Other famous Mainers include
author Stephen King, and publishers
Cyrus Curtis, Frank Munsey, George
Putnam and John Whitney.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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32
Things to Do
_______________________
In Maine
Historic lighthouse
Many people
enjoy Maine's
rugged beauty.
Mountains, cliffs,
lakes, rivers and
streams are all
popular with hikers and campers.
Lighthouses dot the Maine coast.. People
visit Head Light, Fort Point and Grindle
Point lighthouses, among others.
The fishing villages to the north and
sandy beaches in the south attract
many visitors. The Penobscot Marine
Museum is one of the most visited
museums in
New England.
Boat races, fairs
and festivals
take place in
the summer.
Rock beaches
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34
Sports
_______________________
Sailing
In Maine
Hockey is the state's favorite
sport. The University of Maine's Black
Bears are among
the elite college
hockey teams in
the United States.
Hockey is played
in high-school
and youth
leagues as well.
Hunting, fishing, hiking and camping
are some of the individual sports that
many enjoy in Maine.. Sailing is also
popular.
Hockey
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36
Rock beach
Fast Facts
Governor: John Baldacci
Capital: Augusta
Size: 30,865 square miles, 39th in the U.S.
Population: 1,274,923 people, 40th in
the U.S.
Major cities: Auburn, Augusta, Bangor,
Lewiston, Portland, South Portland
Nickname: "Pine Tree State"
State animal: moose
State bird: chickadee
State flower: pine cone and tassel of the
white pine
State tree: white pine
State song: "State of Maine Song"
State motto: "Dirigo" (I direct)
_______________________
Pony
38
Glossary
combat, intended for use or
deployment in battle or war.
elite, the choice or best of anything.
gatherer, someone who harvests or
picks wild flowers or food.
lighthouse, a tall structure with a bright
light on top used as a beacon or signal
to ships.
patriot, one who loves, supports, and
defends his or her country.
_______________________
pirate, one who robs at sea or
plunders on land from the sea without
commission or permission of a nation.
poem, a composition in verse.
rugged, having a rough or irregular
surface, rough.
tassel, a bunch of loose threads or
cords bound at one end and used for
decoration; in plants, pollen-bearing
inflorescence that resemble a tassle.
textile, a cloth, fabric, or yarn
manufactured by weaving or knitting.
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40
Links & Books
For more information
____
Link1
____
Link2
____
Link3
____
Link4
____
Link5
Title: The World Book Encyclopedia
Publisher: World Book, Inc.
Copyright: 2002
Title: The Kid's World Almanac of the United
States
Author: Dr.Thomas G. Aylesworth
Publisher: World Almanac
Copyright: 1990
Title: Exploring the 50 States
Author: Marcie Anderson
Publisher: Willowisp Press, Inc.
Copyright: 1983
Visit our website @ www.isaveatree.com
42
Index
Augusta, 5
Baldacci, John, 11
chickadee, 25, 26
coast, 5, 8, 18, 22, 33
cone, pine, 29
harbor, 16
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 31
moose, 13, 23, 24
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_______________________
Penobscot Marine Museum, 19, 34
pine, white, 27, 28
Revolutionary War, 8
seafood, 17
ship, 8, 20, 27
Vikings, 7
44
Credits
Written by
James F. Kaserman
Sarah J. Kaserman
Edited by
Linda Coyner
Produced by
Robert Rance
Technologies
Doug Meyers
Design
Dan Mader
Photo credits
Maine Department of Natural
Resources
www.arttoday.com
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I Save A Tree Inc. reserves the right to remove or exchange any
photo/illustration at any time without notice.
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