Down East magazine, has been publishing since August 1954, and continues as one of Maine's most prominent monthly magazines. Their web site's history page provides the following description:

"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.

Follow


Submissions from 2008

A special section on arts and crafts in Maine, with advice on turning a craft in, of Down East Editors

A special section on fishing in the historic Rangeley Lakes region, with article, Kristen Lindquist, Edgar Allen Beem, and Joshua Moore

A special section on Maine boating, including pieces on best windjammer watching, of Down East Editors

A special section on Maine education, including articles on secret sources of co, Jeff Clark

As principal timpanist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Vic Firth was unable, Andrew Vietze

A survey of nine of Maine's finest freshwater swimming spots, including Cold Str, Emily Glatz Fontaine

Author Monica Wood writes of her childhood in Mexico, Maine, and the day of her, Monica Wood

Bangor's downtown, once nearly empty, now has an occupancy rate of over 90 perce, Jeff Clark

Cherryfield, set in Washington County's blueberry barrens, has become mostly a b, Virginia Wright

Damariscove Island, perhaps the first permanent English outpost north of Jamesto, Colin Woodard

Descriptions of 12 lesser-known beaches in Maine, including Seapoint Beach in Ki, Andrew Vietze

Down East "How To" guide on procuring home grown vegetables during Maine's winte, Kim Ridley

"Down East How To" section, with an interview with rose-loving couple Glenn Jenk, Aurelia C. Scott

Down East readers voted to elect "Maine's Seven Wonders," coming up with a list, of Down East Editors

"Down East Traveler" piece on museums in Maine.

Each summer, many of the tourists visting Acadia National Park overlook the park, Jennifer Smith-Mayo

Elizabeth Gilbert, best-selling author of "Eat, Pray, Love," lived on Matinicus, Ari Meil

Exploring Maine in autumn, with descriptions of golf courses, sporting camps, ag, of Down East Editors

Former guide and community organizer Jeff McEvoy and his wife Beth Rankin, a for, Wayne Curtis

FPL Energy inherited a contract from Central Maine Power, the original owner of, Jeff Clark

Fred Keating of Stow started Keating's Loki Clan Wolf Refuge in 1994, after find, Charlotte Albright

Henry Knox was a founding father and Revolutionary War hero, but he also tried t, Colin Woodard

"How To" piece on healthy living in Maine, including author Monica Wood's interv, Monica Wood

In a controversial deal, Katahdin Lake and 6,691 acres surrounding it recently b, Jeff Clark

"Inside Maine" books piece on a new mystery by Maine resident and Irish novelist, Elizabeth Hand

"Inside Maine" books piece on Christina Baker Kline's comic romance, "The Way Li, Elizabeth Hand

"Inside Maine" books piece on "The Snoring Bird," by Bernd Heinrich," an emeritu, Haward David Bain

"Inside Maine" books piece on "Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work," by, Patricia O'Donnell

"Inside Maine" dining piece on Azure Cafe in Freeport, owned by Jonas and Kate W, Debra Spark

"Inside Maine" dining piece on Bandaloop in Kennebunkport, owned by W. Scott Lee, Michaela Cavallaro

"Inside Maine" dining piece on McKay's Public House in Bar Harbor, owned by Bria, Brooke Dojny and Kathleen Fleury

"Inside Maine" dining piece on the Horn of Plenty restaurant in Island Falls in, Andrew Vietze

"Inside Maine" dining piece on the Rockland wine bar, In Good Company, owned by, Kathleen Fleury

"Inside Maine" getaway piece on Biddeford, with details on cultural events, shop, Andrew Vietze

"Inside Maine" getaway piece on Kingfield, with information on lodging, dining,, Joshua F. Moore

"Inside Maine" getaway piece on the newly created Seboomook Scenic Byway from Gr, Andrew Vietze

"Inside Maine" piece on Merrymeeting Fields Preserve, part of the Lower Kennebec

"Inside Maine" piece on podcasts set up by Bowdoin's Peary-MacMillan Arctic Muse

"Inside Maine" piece on Portland's star chef Sam Howard of Fore Street, who end

"Inside Maine" piece on Truman Collar of Hancock, which makes a variety of decor

In the 1920s and '30s, Maine's lakes were among the state's star attractions. T, Joshua F. Moore

Jack Pelletier of Gorham, "the dean of Maine bottle collectors;" Portland artist, Virginia Wright

Located on the tip of Blue Hill's peninsula, Brooklin has 850 residents, over 1, Virginia Wright

Maine Huts & Trails in Kingfield is pairing groomed cross-country trails with co, Joshua F. Moore

Maine's First Lady, Karen Baldacci, an avid gardener, discovered the original 19, Rebecca Martin Evarts

Maine's top food experts pick their 50 favorite restaurants, with descriptions o, Kathleen Fleury

Margaret Hathaway, author of "The Year of the Goat," says Maine has much to offe, Kathleen Fleury

Matinicus Island, 23 miles from Rockland, is served by four ferries a month in s, Max Alexander

"North by East" piece on a painting rescued from a Maryland church's trash pile,

"North by East" piece on a well-loved Christmas display featuring mechanical elv