"The goal of Down East has always been to hold a mirror up to Maine — its storied past and lively present — and to celebrate its flinty, independent character and unhurried way of life. As Maine has changed with the times, however, so has Down East. Today the state has come to embrace its future as well as its past. Accordingly, the magazine now focuses more on contemporary Maine life and what the future might bring and less on historical background and quaint rusticity. Booming circulation and advertising gains demonstrate the wisdom of this editorial shift."
Portland Public Library's collection of Down East is complete, and begins with the first issue, August 1954. The hard copies are available in the Portland Room.
Submissions from 2022
Good Things From Maine: Call of the Wild, Jaed Coffin
Good Things from Maine: Chair-ity Event, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Crafting a Farewell, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: Dream Weaver, Caleb Jagoda
Good Things From Maine: Fine Prints, Addie Best and Caleb Jagoda ["as told to']
Good Things From Maine: Glass Menagerie, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: Hello, Goodbye, A. P.
Good Things from Maine: It's All their Vault, Adrienne Perron
Good Things from Maine: Looks Good on Paper, Sara Anne Donnelly
Good Things from Maine: Main Street is Your Oyster, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Oud of This World, Monique Brouillette and Jawad Al Fatlawi
Good Things from Maine: Page Numbers, Alexandra Hall
Good Things From Maine: Pulling the Strings, Jesse Ellison
Good Things From Maine: Sewing Change, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Shamash Showpiece, Adrienne Perron
Good Things from Maine: Smooth Selling, Alexandra Hall
Good Things from Maine: That's Dope!, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Trash to Treasure, Tina Fischer
Good Things From Maine: Up to her Neckie, Down East staff writers
Grainy Picture, Joel Crabtree
Have You Seen These Plants?, Aurelia C. Scott
Here Comes The Sun?, Michaela Cavallaro
House Tour: Happy Place, Sara Ann Donnelly
House Tour: Happy Place, Sara Ann Donnelly
House Tour: New Chapter, Sarah Stebbins
House Tour: Thrifter's Paradise, Sarah Stebbins
How did Gulf of Maine Lobster Get Canceled?, Kathryn Miles
In With the Old, Virginia M. Wright, Adrienne Perron, Brian Kevin, and Sarah Stebbins
Kelping Out, Will Grunewald
Labor of Love, Catie Joyce-Bulay
Legacy Keeper, Brian Kevin
Lost in the Valley?/Perdu Dans la Vallée?, Eric Boodman
Maine Homes: Artists' Retreats, S. S.
Maine Homes: Bright Spot, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: Character Study, S. S.
Maine Homes: Creature Comforts, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: Fantasyland, Virginia M. Wright
Maine Homes: Fun House, Michaela Cavallaro
Maine Homes: Go-Go Granny Flats!, S. S.
Maine Homes: Holly, Jolly, and Over the Top, Brian Kevin
Maine Homes: House Tour: Creative Collaboration, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Sweet Spot, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: The Perks of Being a Wall Painter, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: House Tour: What a Peach, Michaela Cavallaro
Maine Homes: Lord of the Gourds, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: Officers' Quarters, S. S.
Maine Homes: One Plant Led to Another, Virginia M. Wright
Maine Homes: Strong Points, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: You and She Could Write an Ag Romance, S. S.
Make Way for Dumplings, W. G.