Van Buren

Van Buren is the gateway to the St. John River Valley in northern Maine.  The town was settled in 1785 by Acadian people who were exiled from Nova Scotia, Canada. Van Buren is one of the best places to visit for learning about the French-Canadian culture that remains a large part of everyday life in Aroostook County.

The community's Acadian Village features original and replica buildings and homes reconstructed into a museum village setting. The Village is one of the largest historical sites in Maine, complete with a log chapel, schoolhouse, general store, square-hewn log homes, blacksmith shop, a gristmill and a wool carding mill. The oldest original properties date to the 1790s. The Village is on Route 1 and open daily from mid-June to mid-September

The multi-use Bangor & Aroostook Trail snakes through forests and past ponds and streams from Van Buren to the village of Stockholm. The 58-mile crushed stone and dirt trail offers year-round fun for bicyclists, hikers, horseback riders, ATV users, snowmobilers and cross country skiers. Swimming, fishing and boating are favorite summer activities at Long Lake, and the town has 75 miles of snowmobile trails for winter adventure seekers.

Local celebrations include the summer International Grande Riviere Festival held in conjunction with Canadian neighbor St. Leonard, New Brunswick. The Annual Community Bazaar, held the first weekend in August, is not to be missed.