Augusta

It is one of the smallest state capitals in the country by population, and it does not feel like a capital in the way Boston or Albany do. What it has is a working river, a genuinely good state museum, and a colonial fort that predates the state itself.

Why Augusta is the capital

Maine became a state in 1820 under the Missouri Compromise, and Portland served as the first capital. Portland was the obvious choice (the largest city and the busiest port) but it sat at the southern edge of a state whose population was pushing inland and north, and legislators from the interior objected to the journey.

Augusta won the relocation vote in 1827 on geography: it is close to the population centre of the state, and it sits at the head of navigation on the Kennebec, which in the 1820s made it reachable by water as well as road. The State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch (the architect of the Massachusetts State House and part of the US Capitol) opened in 1832. Its dome is copper, weathered green, and visible from most of the city.

Things to do in Augusta

Old Fort Western (4.7 across 382 Google reviews) is the reason to plan a visit rather than just a stop. Built in 1754 on the Kennebec's east bank, it is the oldest surviving wooden fort in the United States, and the main house is original rather than reconstructed. Benedict Arnold staged here in 1775 on the march to Quebec.

The Maine State Museum (4.7 from 480 reviews) sits in the State House complex and covers the state's natural and industrial history. The ice trade, shipbuilding, the woods. It has been through a long closure for renovation, so check its current status before making the trip specifically for it.

The Blaine House (4.5 from 32 reviews), across from the State House, is the governor's residence and was the home of James G. Blaine: Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, and the losing Republican candidate for president in 1884. Tours run on a limited schedule.

Viles Arboretum (4.7 from 521 reviews) has 224 acres and several miles of easy trails on the city's eastern edge, free and open year-round. Capitol Park (4.5 from 447 reviews) runs between the State House and the river.

Where to eat

The Red Barn (4.7 across nearly 4,000 reviews) is the most-reviewed place in the city by a wide margin: a takeout window and picnic tables that has become an institution, and which gives a large share of its proceeds to local charities. Cushnoc Brewing Co. (4.6 from close to 2,000 reviews) is the downtown brewery and wood-fired pizza operation, and the reason downtown Augusta has an evening at all.

Beyond those two, the city's food is largely chain restaurants along Western Avenue, which is honest to say: this is a state capital that functions as a regional service centre, not a dining destination.

Getting here and around

Augusta sits at the junction of I-95 and Route 3, an hour from Portland and an hour from the coast at Camden. It is a practical inland base for the Kennebec Valley, and it is twenty minutes from Hallowell, whose small brick main street has more of the antique shops and restaurants people expect from a river town.

Common questions

What is the capital of Maine?

Augusta is the capital of Maine. It sits on the Kennebec River in the centre of the state and has held the seat of government since 1827, when the legislature voted to move it from Portland.

Why is Augusta the capital of Maine instead of Portland?

Portland was the first capital after statehood in 1820, but it lies at the far southern edge of the state. Augusta was chosen in 1827 because it is far closer to Maine's geographic and population centre and stood at the head of navigation on the Kennebec, making it reachable from the interior.

Is Augusta the largest city in Maine?

No. Augusta has roughly 19,000 residents, which makes it one of the smallest state capitals in the country. Portland is Maine's largest city at about 68,000, followed by Lewiston and Bangor.

Is Augusta, Maine worth visiting?

For a day, yes. Old Fort Western is genuinely rare, the State House and Blaine House are a short walk apart, and Viles Arboretum is free. As a base for a longer trip it is better thought of as a convenient inland stop between the coast and the western mountains than as a destination in itself.