"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 2023
Good Things from Maine: Micro Managing, A. P.
Good Things from Maine: Need for Beads, Chelsea Diehl
Good Things From Maine: No Skin in the Game, Monique Brouillette
Good Things From Maine: Picks of the Litter, Adrienne Perron
Good Things from Maine: Reading Rainbow, S. S.
Good Things from Maine: Rock Star, Jesse Ellison
Good Things From Maine: Say Yes to the Dress, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Sole Proprietor, Adrienne Perron
Good Things from Maine: Stranger Things, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: The Woman Behind the Masks, Arielle Greenberg
Good Things From Maine: Welcome to the Dollhouse, Sara Anne Donnelly
He's Been Thinking, Rachel Slade and Tara Rice [photos]
Holiday Fish-tivities, Derek Bissonnette
Homes on the Range, Sara Anne Donnelly and Sarah Stebbins
Hosta Takeover, Virginia M. Wright
House Tour: Safe Haven, Michaela Cavallaro
Keeping it 100, Bridget M. Burns, Will Grunewald, Brian Kevin, Adrienne Perron, and Greg Westrich
Keeping it General, Dave Waddell [photos], Tristan Spinski [photos], and Jesse Ellison [text]
Maine Fauna A to Z, Down East staff writers
Maine Fauna A to Z: A is for Arctic Char, Brian Kevin
Maine Fauna A to Z: C is for Caribou, Ron Joseph ["as told to"]
Maine Fauna A to Z: D is for Dogs, Kathryn Miles
Maine Fauna A to Z: H is for Hagfish, Virginia M. Wright
Maine Fauna A to Z: J is for Jackson Laboratory, Peter Andrey Smith
Maine Fauna A to Z: M is for Moose, B. K.
Maine Fauna A to Z: P is for Puffins, Derrick Z. Jackson
Maine Fauna A to Z: S is for Sturgeon, Scot McFarlane and John Lichter
Maine Fauna A to Z: W is for Whitetails, Nora Saks
Maine Homes: Absolute Horror Show, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: Block Party, Virginia M. Wright
Maine Homes: Dahlia Mania!, Aurelia C. Scott
Maine Homes: Domestic Art, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: Fashion Forward, S. S.
Maine Homes: Hall of Fame, S. S.
Maine Homes: Home is Where the Art Is, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: Home Sweet... Powerhouse?, S. S.
Maine Homes: House Tour: Better Together, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Bringing Their "A" Game, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Design on a Dime, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Humble Abode, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: House Tour: Modern Love, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Ranch Hands, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Spiritual Home, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: House Tour: Team Effort, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes: House Tour: Three by the Sea, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: Keeping the Faith, S. S.
Maine Homes: Nailing that Navy Quotient, Brian Kevin
Maine Homes: Opportunity Knocks?, Nora Saks
Maine Homes: Peony Pride, Aurelia C. Scott
Maine Homes: Print Preview, Virginia M. Wright