"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 2008
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Maine's battle with the federal government over its
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Maine's tiny and elusive saw-whet owl, which Judy C, Thomas Urquhart
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Maine taking the lead in modular homebuilding, with, Joshua F. Moore
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Mike Wilson of Bethel, formerly Maine outreach dire, Nate Hardcastle
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Seth Carey, who crafted a sweeping referendum quest, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the Aroostook County magazine, "Echoes," edited by, Virginia Wright
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the immigrant worker situation in Maine. It is est, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the mysterious death of Bella Baldwin on Vinalhaven, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the Portland Fish Exchange, a public market for Mai, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the upcoming U.S. Senate race between Maine's senio, Jeff Clark
The town of Bowdoinham is "an unexpected nexus of woodworkers, furniture makers,, Edgar Allen Beem
The town of Bucksport, spread out below the observation tower on the new Penobsc, Jeff Clark
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1947 photo taken by Michael Shalhoup of a York, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1984 photo of Bangor novelist Stephen King wit, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a flood of the Androscoggin River on March 19, 1, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on an 1895 photo by an anonymous cameraman of a sur, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a photo by Livermore Falls cameraman F. A. Wende, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a photo taken by Leyland Whipple of the great Ba, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a previously unpublished 1933 photo of Eleanor R, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on Eastman Park in Saco, where in 1912, local photo, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on James M. Bartlett, a research chemist at the Mai, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on the USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsid, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece showing a 1926 photo of Sagadahoc County Sheriff Al, Joshua F. Moore
William Wingate Sewall, the first white baby born in Island Falls, learned some, Andrew Vietze
Without a license, anyone can collect up to three bushels of surf (as opposed to, Thomas Urquhart
Submissions from 2007
A 300-year-old commercial pier in York is now a private home, part of the 20 per, Jeff Clark
A brief article on the MS Harborfest in Portland Harbor scheduled for August 19,
A compilation of facts on logging in Maine, presented as a pop quiz.
A computer image of the Gulf of Maine, generated for the Gulf of Maine Council o, Joshua F. Moore
A description of five short trails at Quoddy Head State Park in Lubec, Maine's e, Joshua F. Moore
A detailed look at the Maine lobster's journey from trap to table, by way of lob, Rob Sneddon
A detailed look at the "two Biddefords." The town known for its fractious politi, Virginia Wright
A diagnosis of the state's economic ills, with prescriptions for solutions. The, Jeff Clark
A "field guide to Maine architecture," with illustrations and descriptions of th, Edgar Allen Beem
A Florida couple bought a seaside lot in Cape Elizabeth's Delano Park neighborho, Michaela Cavallaro
A humorous article on the author's split parenting personality, depending on whe, Heidi Julavits
A look at harness racing, the only type of horse racing in Maine and a fixture, Elizabeth Peavey
A look at how some "lifestyle entrepreneurs" make career trade-offs to enjoy Mai, Michaela Cavallaro
An aerial view of Mount Katahdin's Great Basin, with descriptions of trails to t
An article for gardeners on assuring the survival of their perennials. The Plan, Rebecca Sawyer-Fay
An article on dollhouse hobbyists and some of the businesses and events that cat, Michaela Cavallaro
An article on paddling the Pemaquid River, a 17-mile network of ponds and rivers, Joshua F. Moore
An article on Portland's growing fashion design industry, including Alex Carleto, Sara Donnelly
An article on taking a fall trip to New Gloucester, best known for the Shaker vi, Jeff Clark
An article on the growing trend of eating locally, which has been picked up by e, Joshua F. Moore
An article on the Kennebec Highlands, a 6,100-acre tract of protected land in th, Elizabeth Peavey
An A to Z list of jobs off the beaten path, with examples of Mainers pursuing th, Charlotte Albright
An excerpt from a new book by Tom and Lee Ann Szelog, "Our Point of View," recal, Tom Szelog and Ann Lee
An excerpt from John Christie's book, "The Story of Sugarloaf." The book is an, John Christie
An interview with Lu Bauer of Standish, a Certified Public Accountant who specia, Jeff Clark