"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 1997
The Skolfield Whittier House in Brunswick was never used as a full-time residenc, Ellen MacDonald Ward
The state's best-respected forest-fire-fighting sqaudron is made up mostly of te, Andrew Vietze
"The Talk of Limestone" piece on the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on personal watercraft (PWC) such as Jet Skis. With m, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the current campaign by the Conservation Law Founda, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the issue of logging on Maine's islands. Logging i, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece the excellent quality of care received at Maine hospit, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece with a profile of Lou McNally, host of Maine Public Te, Jeff Clark
Thirty-eight hundred students attend school at home in Maine. Home-schooling in, Jeff Clark
Though Livermore of the late 1800s was a working-class town, its Italianate mans, Winnie White
Three-part article describing the "real Kennebunkport." Part one looks at the v, Ellen MacDonald Ward, Elizabeth Peavey, and Ken Textor
"What's in a Picture?" 1893 photograph showing the wooden-hulled "San Joaquin,"r, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's in a Picture?" 1905 photograph, with detailed caption, showing Dr. Charl, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's in a Picture?" Late 1800s photograph of a Brewer brickyard, showing work, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's In A Picture?" Photo and a short article on Rural Free Delivery in Main, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's in a Picture?" Photo from around 1950 of the Presque Isle train station, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's in a Picture" piece about a photograph of two Bangor lumbermen, perhaps, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a "marine car" known as the Comet, which became, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a Tom Thumb wedding staged in Sanford on April 2, Ellen MacDonald Ward
Submissions from 1996
A humorous account by George Carey, 60, of the training he undertakes and the fa, George Carey
A humorous paean to the Willow Bake Shoppe in Rockland, where Arnold Drinkwater, Christopher Corbett
"Along the Waterfront" piece about Arthur Fivelands, now of Lamoine, who started, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece about Dean Pike, who operates Moose Island Marine i, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on 16 Mount View High School students in Thorndike, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on "Around the World in Seventy-Nine Days," by worl, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Atlantic Boat Company, born of a merger of Duffy, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Benjamin River Marine in Brooklin, which, with t, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on boatbuilder Paul Rollins of York, who is buildin, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Cruising the Maine Coast, a bi-monthly magazine, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Douglas Pope, who has moved his Haarstick-Pope S, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Dr. Hugh Harwood of Cumberland, who commissioned, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Drs. Ron and Caroline Teschke and their three ch, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on George Marks, a mechanical engineer, sailor, and, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Gov. Angus King's proclamation of July as Windja, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Herb and Doris Smith of Albion, who skipper thei, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on how an era of Hodgdon-family boatbuilding in Eas, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on how the diversification of product line to inclu, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on: John Brooks of Mount Desert Island, a builder o, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on launchings this season by the Landing School in
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Pembroke natives Bob Moore and Martin Brooks, wh, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Peter Spectre, former editor of WoodenBoat magaz, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the 14-foot Piscataqua wherry being sold under t, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the Artisans College, formerly the Rockport Appr, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the cruising adventures of Dick and Shirley Noye, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the Katherine B., owned by Gordon and Kathy Baxt
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the Maine Marine Modelmakers association, formed, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the South Portland Yacht Club's revival of the c, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the upcoming launch of the coasting schooner Lew, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on the windjammer Roseway, which offers cruises out, James P. Brown
"Along the Waterfront" piece on Todd Scoog of Sedgwick, who works at the Benjami, James P. Brown