"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 2011
"The Talk of Maine" piece on efforts to eliminate Maine's Land Use Regulation Co, Colin Woodard
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Governor LePage's controversial efforts to repeal e, Colin Woodward
"The Talk of Maine" piece on how mud-slinging politics has arrived in Maine, wit, Colin Woodard
"The Talk of Maine" piece on how the Portland City Council's recent weakening of, Colin Woodard
"The Talk of Maine" piece on how the recent nuclear plant problems in Japan are, Colin Woodward
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the challenges faced by new leadership at the Maine, Colin Woodard
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the historic influence of Greater New England regio, Colin Woodard
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the nearly two year, $75 million expansion of the P, Edgar Allen Beem
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the rise of crimes in Maine tied to prescription dr, Virginia Wright
"The Talk of Maine" piece with an analysis of Maine's recent election, in which, Colin Woodard
The U.S. Postal Service is contemplating the closure of 3,653 post offices acros, Edgar Allen Beem
The village of Robbinston, the last town on the Atlantic coast of the United Sta, Virginia Wright
This month, 120 million overseas TV viewers will watch 240 athletes from 30 coun, Virginia Wright
Todd Morrissette, owner and sole employee of the DeadHead Lumber Company, salvag, David William Turner
"Ultimate Guide to Maine Summer Foods" special supplement including information, Virginia M. Wright, Edgar Allen Beem, Michael Sanders, Dana Moos, and Kira Goldenberg
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1909 portrait of Brooks telephone operator Edn, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1911 photo of auto racing on Old Orchard Beach, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1914 photo of a boy jumping off a wharf into, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1914 photo of Thornton Academy girls dressed i, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1918 deep freeze that iced in a 110-foot "subc, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1961 photo of Brigadier General Selmon Wells s, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1981 candid photo of Air New England Employee, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a July 5, 1920 photo of a woman participating in, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a November 7, 1892 photo taken by Biddeford phot, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and h, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a photo of William Wegman's weimaraners, Battina, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a Photoshopped image of a large moose being harn, Joshua F. Moore
Submissions from 2010
A brief history of Castine, leading up to the tensions between the town and the, Joshua F. Moore
Acadia's historic carriage roads are the legacy of John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s vis, Andrew Vietze
A conversation between Sandy Oliver of Isleboro, cookery author and columnist, a, Kathleen Fleury
A detailed article on the history of Casco Bay's forts, the conflicts that promp, Colin Woodard
A look at auction houses and auctioneers in Maine and the lure they exert over t, Michael Burke
A look at life in Portland, Bangor, Augusta, and Lewiston-Auburn, with suggestio, Kristen Andresen Lainsbury, Virginia Wright, Kathleen Fleury, and Paul Karr
A look at Ogunquit, "a town that works" and that is "artsy, quirky, sometimes cr, Cynthia Anderson
A look at the career of artist Winslow Homer on the centennial of his death. His, Edgar Allen Beem
A look at the Celebration Barn in South Paris, founded by the late Tony Montanar, Kathleen Fleury
A look at the cosmopolitan town of Bethel, which borders the White Mountain Nati, Virginia Wright
An article on Maine Dental Health Out-Reach Inc., created by Susanne LaVallee of, Maura Ewing
An article on Maine writer John S. Springer, whose "Forest Life and Forest Trees, Wayne Curtis
An article on the Gelato Fiasco in Brunswick, started four years ago by Joshua D, Kathleen Fleury
An excerpt from Jeannine Lauber's new book, "Chosen Faith, Chosen Land," on Shak, Jeannine Lauber
An interview with Halcyon Blake, founder of Halcyon Yarn in Bath. She was one o, Joshua F. Moore
An overview of 31 places, people, and dishes not to miss in Maine when dining ou, Kathleen Fleury
A photo essay on Georgetown Island and Reid State Park., Alan LaVallee
Artist Andrea Peters of East Boothbay paints Maine in all four seasons, but is a, Edgar Allen Beem
A selection of clock towers that grace Maine towns, with descriptions.
As federal regulations and declining stocks have decimated Maine's groundfishing, Joshua F. Moore
A special holiday section with articles on Lincolnville's holiday tradition, com, of Down East Editors
A special summer section "On the Water," with information on Maine's lakes, mari
A special supplement by the editors of Down East on the Boothbays-- Southport, B, Joshua F. Moore and of Down East Editors