The story of Maine has always been a story of makers. From the earliest Wabanaki peoples to the shipwrights, mill workers, stonecutters, and artisans who followed, Maine’s identity has been shaped by the skilled hands of those who transformed the land and sea into objects of beauty, utility, and endurance. Maine Made Month is not just a celebration of today’s creativity—it is an honoring of the traditions that built this place.

Boatbuilding: From Forest to Sea

Maine’s jagged coastline, longer than California’s, called for vessels strong enough to endure the Atlantic and swift enough to carry goods and people across the globe. The towering pines of Maine’s forests—straight, tall, and resilient—were prized for ship masts that reached markets far beyond New England. In

Bath, “The City of Ships,” schooners and clipper ships were launched that carried Maine’s craftsmanship worldwide. Generations of shipwrights in towns like Brooklin, Rockland, and East Boothbay shaped keels, planks, and spars by hand. Even today, Maine’s boatyards carry forward this tradition, where every vessel launched tells a story of forest and sea.

The First Makers: Wabanaki Traditions

Long before mills and workshops dotted the landscape, the Wabanaki people—whose homeland spans what is now Maine—crafted with deep knowledge of the land and waterways. Birchbark was shaped into canoes, light and durable, perfectly suited for the Penobscot, St. Croix, and Kennebec rivers. Black ash and sweetgrass, harvested with care, were woven into baskets of extraordinary strength and beauty. Snowshoes, bent and lashed by hand, made travel possible across deep drifts. These traditions, carried forward by Wabanaki artists today, remain vital expressions of cultural identity and artistry that are inseparable from Maine’s heritage.

Textiles: Mills, Looms, and Fibers

By the 19th century, the roar of Maine’s rivers powered great textile mills. In Lewiston and Auburn, the Bates Mill and its neighbors produced blankets and textiles known across the country. In Biddeford and Saco, cotton and woolen mills lined the Saco River, sustaining families and shaping entire communities. Wool from Maine’s farms and fibers from beyond were spun and woven on massive looms. While many mills have gone silent, the legacy lives on in today’s artisans who spin, weave, and dye with renewed purpose, linking their work to Maine’s textile past.

Axes, Iron, and the Work of Fire

The forests that fueled shipbuilding also demanded tools strong enough to tame them. In Oakland, axe-making became an industry, with workshops forging blades prized by loggers across North America. Bangor, once the “Lumber Capital of the World,” thrived thanks in part to these tools, which helped drive logs down the Penobscot River to market. Across the state, blacksmiths bent and hammered iron into hinges, nails, and hardware that sustained farms and households. Every forge glowed with the transformation of fire and metal into strength—marking Maine as a land of durable, lasting craft.

Stonework & Granite

Beneath Maine’s forests lay another resource that built the nation: granite. From Vinalhaven to Stonington to Hallowell, skilled quarrymen cut massive blocks that became the foundations of bridges, city halls, and monuments across America. Maine granite is found in the Brooklyn Bridge, the Washington Monument, and countless public buildings. Quarrying was grueling work, yet it demanded precision and artistry, carving both the landscape and Maine’s reputation for enduring strength.

Papermaking & Printing

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, papermaking became one of Maine’s largest industries. Towns like Millinocket, Rumford, and Skowhegan thrived as rivers powered mills that turned pulpwood into newsprint, books, and packaging that reached the world. While many large mills have closed, the tradition of working with paper continues in small studios where artisans craft handmade papers and prints—creative heirs to an industry that defined entire communities.

Furniture & Woodworking

Maine’s woodworking tradition goes far beyond boats. From rustic chairs built in rural homesteads to fine cabinetry made for coastal homes, furniture-making has long been part of the state’s craft. At Sabbathday Lake, the Shakers became renowned for their elegant, functional designs—chairs, tables, and storage pieces that are still celebrated today. Modern woodworkers carry this spirit forward, blending functionality with artistry, and proving that Maine’s forests have always been more than raw material—they are inspiration.

Glass & Decorative Arts

Maine’s decorative arts history includes a vibrant, if sometimes overlooked, glass tradition. In the 19th century, glassworks in South Portland produced bottles, lamps, and tableware for households across New England. Today, glassblowers and stained-glass artisans throughout the state keep the tradition alive, merging utility and beauty in ways that honor Maine’s creative spirit.

Fishing, Lobstering & the Craft of the Sea

Along the coast, another form of making shaped Maine’s livelihood: the craft of the sea. For generations, fishermen fashioned their own nets, lines, and tools. Wooden lobster traps, carefully built and repaired, were once a ubiquitous sight stacked high along harbors. While commercial gear has modernized, the tradition of handcrafting essential tools reflects the ingenuity of those whose lives are tied to the tides.

Shoemaking & Leatherwork

By the late 19th century, Maine had also become a center for shoemaking. In Auburn, Norway, and Freeport, factories produced shoes and boots that were shipped across the nation. Leatherworkers crafted goods for farmers, soldiers, and everyday families. This legacy continues through both iconic brands like L.L. Bean and small workshops where artisans hand-stitch shoes, boots, and bags, keeping alive a tradition of durability and care.

A Living Tradition

The crafts of Maine are not relics of the past—they are threads in a living tapestry. From Bath to Biddeford, from the quarries of Stonington to the mills of Lewiston-Auburn, each community has left its mark on the story of Maine Made. Every basket woven, every boat launched, every quilt stitched, shoe crafted, or stone cut continues a story centuries in the making. Maine Made Month invites us to honor this heritage, to see the artistry in everyday objects, and to recognize that the maker’s hand has always been, and will always be, at the heart of Maine.