Visit This Maine Park Now Before It Becomes a Tourist Hotspot

Maine is a paradise for families who love to spend time outside.

We have so much to do, from beaches to hiking trails, parks, playgrounds, and more.

While many of our state's outdoor spaces are well-known, there are a few that really fly under the radar.

Capitol Park in Augusta, Maine

Augusta’s Capitol Park is one of Central Maine’s true hidden gems.

Located across State Street from the Maine State House, the park features 34 acres of lush lawns and tree-lined walking trails.

According to the Cultural Landscape Foundation, the park was created in 1827, just a few years after Maine became a state.  It is the state’s earliest documented designed landscape.

About a century after the park was initially laid out, there were plans to update the park.

In addition to the green spaces, the park also houses the mausoleum for Maine Governor Enoch Lincoln, who passed away while in office in 1829.

The article explains:

In 1920 Governor Carl Milliken commissioned the Olmsted Brothers, represented by Carl Rust Parker, to prepare plans for the grounds of the Governor’s mansion (Blaine House), State House, and park. The firm completed designs in 1920 and consulted sporadically until about 1929.

The updated plan for the park called for the construction of a gazebo and a zoo that would have housed native animals.  Unfortunately, those were never built.

Even though the park never got a zoo, it is still a great place to hang out with your family.

The lawns provide a great place for the kids to play. There are tables & chairs for those wanting to have lunch in the park, and there are also walking paths which are perfect for people of all abilities.

You can learn more about the park from the Maine by Foot website.