Saint Croix Island

https://www.nps.gov/sacr/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Croix_Island,_Maine Saint Croix Island (French: Île Sainte-Croix), is a small uninhabited island in Maine near the mouth of the Saint Croix River that forms part of the Canada–United States border separating Maine from New Brunswick. The island is in the heart of the traditional lands of the Passamaquoddy people who, according to oral tradition, used it to store food away from the dangers of mainland animals. The island was the site of an early attempt at French colonization by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons in 1604. There is no public access to the island, but there is a visitor contact station on the U.S. mainland and a display on the Canadian mainland opposite the island. The winter of 1604-1605 on Saint Croix Island was a cruel one for Pierre Dugua's French expedition. Iced in by freezing temperatures and cut off from fresh water and game, 35 of 79 men died. As spring arrived and native people traded game for bread, the health of those remaining improved. Although the expedition moved on by summer, the beginning of French presence in North America had begun. Saint Croix Island International Historic Site is best reached by private vehicle. The site is located 8 miles (13 km) south of Calais, Maine, on US Route 1, and can be reached either by Route 9 from Bangor or US Route 1, the coastal route from Portland and points south. From US Route 1, turn onto St. Croix Drive. The entrance gate is on the right. The visitor center is inside the ranger station. Saint Croix Island Ranger Station The ranger station provides information for the area and the history of Saint Croix Island and marks the start of the interpretive trail leading out to the viewpoint overlooking the island. During winter, typically the end of October to the week before Memorial Day, services are limited. The displays and bronze statutes along the interpretive trail are covered to prevent damage from inclement weather, and the visitor center is closed. Saint Croix Island International Historic Site is best reached by private vehicle. The site is located 8 miles (13 km) south of Calais, Maine, on US Route 1, and can be reached either by Route 9 from Bangor or US Route 1, the coastal route from Portland and points south. From US Route 1, turn onto St. Croix Drive. The entrance gate is on the right. The visitor center is inside the ranger station. Saint Croix Island Entrance View of the drive into Saint Croix Island International Historic Site. View of the drive into Saint Croix Island International Historic Site. Interpretive Trail A wayside discussing the history of the island along the interpretive trail. An interpretive trail guides visitors through the history of the island and the people who called it home. Bronze Sculpture A bronze sculpture of a Passamaquoddy person reaching out to assist the French settlers. The Passamaquoddy's assistance kept the French explorers alive. Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons A bronze sculpture of Pierre Dugua with a reenactor standing nearby. Pierre Dugua and his men spent a dealthy winter on Saint Croix Island. Visitors reading a wayside along the trail Three visitors read an interpretive wayside along the trail. As you walk along the trail waysides provide more information about surviving that deadly winter of 1604-05. Non-Invasive Archeological Investigations at Saint Croix Island International Historic Site During the first week of August 2017 the Northeast Region Archaeology Program (NRAP) joined staff and volunteers from Saint Croix Island International Historic Site (SACR) and Acadia National Park (ACAD) to conduct high resolution geophysical surveys across the actively eroding southern half of Saint Croix Island, the location of one of the earliest first French settlements in North America (1604). Staff and volunteers pose with archeological equipment, outdoors. Virtual Tour: McGlashan-Nickerson House, Calais, Maine Take a virtual tour of the historic McGlashan-Nickerson House located at 76 St. Croix Drive, Calais, Maine. McGlashan-Nickerson House First Floor: Historic McGlashan-Nickerson House Through a Request for Proposals (RFP), the McGlashan-Nickerson House is available for a long-term lease of up to 60 years on favorable terms. The lease will require that the lessee rehabilitate and preserve the building. These 360 images of the interior offer a glimpse of its condition and range of amenities, as of July 2020. Distorted 360 view of a room interior with a wood floors, doorways, and bathroom fixtures Second Floor: Historic McGlashan-Nickerson House Through a Request for Proposals (RFP), the McGlashan-Nickerson House is available for a long-term lease of up to 60 years on favorable terms. The lease will require that the lessee rehabilitate and preserve the building. These 360 images of the interior offer a glimpse of its condition and range of amenities, as of July 2020. Distorted 360 view of a room interior with a wood floors, doorways, and bathroom fixtures Outbuildings: Historic McGlashan-Nickerson House Through a Request for Proposals (RFP), the McGlashan-Nickerson House is available for a long-term lease of up to 60 years on favorable terms. The lease will require that the lessee rehabilitate and preserve the building. These 360 images of the interior offer a glimpse of its condition and range of amenities, as of July 2020. Distorted 360 view of a room interior with a wood floors, doorways, and bathroom fixtures Virtual Tour: Historic McGlashan-Nickerson House Through a Request for Proposals (RFP), the McGlashan-Nickerson House is available for a long-term lease of up to 60 years on favorable terms. The lease will require that the lessee rehabilitate and preserve the building. These 360 images of the interior offer a glimpse of its condition and range of amenities, as of July 2020. Interior image of bathroom with wood floors and historic fixtures Marine Animals on the Move You may be familiar with heat waves on land, but in a changing, warming world, heat waves are starting to become common in the ocean, too. These changes are bringing warmer currents into the area and, in turn, are shifting what animals we’re seeing inhabit the ocean waters around Acadia National Park. Come learn more about the changes that Acadia and other national parks are going through and what you can do to help. gray seal head in ocean water A Very Roosevelt Christmas In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt found his perfect Christmas tree from a tiny island in Maine, just two days after Pearl Harbor. Franklin D. Roosevelt and family in front of the Saint Croix Christmas tree in 1941. Indigenizing Archaeology at Acadia National Park Dr. Bonnie Newsom, and graduate students Natalie Dana Lolar and Isaac St. John, carefully removed stone pieces, bone splinters, and baked clay fragments from their special archival plastic bags and spread them out on a table. They paused for a moment. Newsom, Lolar, and St. John are trained archaeologists and members of different Wabanaki tribes. They were the first Wabanaki people to see the objects since those who created them more than a thousand years ago. a light brown bone flute sits above a light brown piece of pottery The 1604 Saint Croix Island Settlement: A Brief Historical Context The Saint Croix Island settlement was not the first attempt by Europeans to colonize North America. Learn more about the various attempts at settling the Atlantic Coast of North America by Europeans. a painting of a colonial ship and native peoples The Saint Croix Island Settlement Learn about the Saint Croix Island settlement and how 79 men attempted to survive the winter of 1604-05 of Saint Croix Island. drawing of european settlers building things 19th and 20th Century History of Saint Croix Island IHS Though the 1604-05 French settlement on Saint Croix Island is the watershed moment in history that led to the founding of Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, the march of time continued. Learn more about the history of the area in the 19th and 20th centuries including industrialization. rotten pier supports stick up among the rocks in a wooded cove Scurvy at The Saint Croix Settlement When the men settled on Saint Croix Island, they planned on their seasons being similar to those in France, however, the winter of 1604 was one of the coldest recorded and they were unprepared. Scurvy, which plagued sailors for centuries, took hold on the island settlement. Learn more about the impact of this deadly and painful disease on the Saint Croix Island settlement and through the centuries. drawing depicting 17th century european men standing around two sick people in bed The Legacy of Saint Croix Island The legacy of the Saint Croix Island settlement forever influenced the lives of the Wabanaki people, the settlement of North America, and more. blue sky over an island with trees Winter on Saint Croix Island The French who arrived at Saint Croix Island in 1604 thought they were prepared for the winter. They had food and shelter, but still almost half of the men died because of their diet. What foods would you have taken to the island? After you have chosen your five foods, hover over each one to determine how many points you have earned. Total up your points and go to the bottom of the page to see if you survived the winter! A variety of food types arranged as two question marks on a white background Question of the Season at Saint Croix Island IHS Please read our question of the month and feel free to answer. Visitors to the park leave their answers on our white board, but we wanted to make sure all visitors had a chance to answer. To answer call 207-454-3871 or email us. Some answers will make their way to this page! Stack of colored sticky notes on a wood surface with a question mark drawn on top