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 2002

"The Talk of Maine" piece on the American shad (Alosa sapidissima), which has be, Naomi Shalit

"The Talk of Maine" piece on the so-called "term limits" law, which limits Maine, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on the state's wilderness islands. So many kayakers a, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece philanthropy in Maine. In 1999, the last year for whi, Jeff Clark

Tour of the lush cottage garden of Roland Morissette and Ted Ampe in Auburn, whi, Jane Lamb

Tour of Winslow Homer's studio at Prouts Neck in Scarborough where Homer spent t, Meadow Rue Merrill

Submissions from 2001

A dramatic new shorefront house in Phippsburg flouts nearly all the conventions, Paul Doiron

"Along the Waterfront" piece on mobile boat hauling, which has become an easy an, Ken Textor

"Along the Waterfront." Shipworms have appeared in Bath. There are few inexpen, Ken Textor

Alphabetical list of movies filmed in Maine between 1948 and August 2001, includ, Paul Doiron

An article on South Portland's appeal for artists, who are drawn by an emergent, Edgar Allen Beem

An article on the New England Shipbuilding yard, which was built in South Portla

An article on the Portland International Jetport, which is gaining in passengers, Patrick Morris

Article about Purple Loosestrife, also known by gardeners as lythrum, and botani, Richard Grant

As communities across Maine bridle at outmoded state regulations for new school, Edgar Allen Beem

A short article with tips for drivers trying to navigate the "two cities" of Sou

"As I See It." Detailed column endorsing a North Woods Park. The scale of indu, Robert Kimber

A store directory to the Maine Mall in South Portland.

Booklet with detailed recommendations on planning a wedding in Maine., Meadow Rue Merrill

Book review of "Fly-Rod Crosby [1854-1946]: The Woman Who Marketed Maine" by Jul

Chuck Richards, 81, a retired botany professor from the University of Maine, has, James Schwartz

"Cover Story" piece on Bath during the Christmas season. On the first Saturday, Meadow Rue Merrill

Descriptions of more than a dozen restaurants in South Portland, from Barbara's, Paul Doiron

Detailed 1944 letter in which Michael Wallace, the son of Irish immigrants, desc, Michael Wallace

Detailed history of the 1961 Brooks car crash that killed Charlie Fossett, Donni, Edgar Allen Beem

Detailed profile of the high-stakes bingo game on Indian Island., Elizabeth Peavey

Detailed table of facts and statistics from each Maine county, including county

"Dining Down East." Profile of John and Phyllis Morris' Oxford House Inn in Fry, Virginia Wright

"Dining Down East." Profile of Kristina's Restaurant and Bakery in Bath., Virginia Wright

"Dining Down East." Profile of Melissa Kelly and Price Kushner's Primo restaura, Bruce D. Snider

"Dining Down East." Restaurant review of Hugo's in Portland., Debra Spark

"Dining Down East." Review of the restaurant at Lake House in Waterford., Elizabeth Peavey

"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "Deephaven," portaits of small-town Maine, Richard Grant

"Down East Bookshelf." Book reviews of "Stephen King Country" by George Beahm a, Richard Grant

"Down East Bookshelf." Detailed book review of "The Allagash" by Lew Dietz., Jon A. Lund

"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "In Maine" written by John N. Cole. Orginally pu, Michael D. Burke

"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "The Mirror of Maine: One Hundred Distinguished, Paul Doiron

"Down East Bookshelf" piece reviewing "Empire Falls," written by Richard Russo o, Richard Grant

"Down East Traveler." List of golf courses in Maine.

"Down East Traveler" piece on winter recreation areas in Maine with directories

Everything about the Plainview Farm nursery that Steve and Donna Palmer run in N, Jane Lamb

Every year or so, we read about a movie being filmed along the coast of Maine., Paul Doiron

Excerpts from the 1893 diary of Fred B. Tuck, Maine's first antique dealer., Fred B. Tuck

Feature article about Andrew Wyeth's paintings of his best friend Walter Anderso, Edgar Allen Beem

Feature article on Matinicus Island, which is located 23 miles from the mainland, Elizabeth Peavey

Feature article on the central-Maine town of Millinocket. Long resistant to the, Jeff Clark

Feature article on the old graveyards that make up most of the estimated 4,000 c, Staff

History of the Portland Observatory, the best view in Portland. The 194-year-ol, Jeff Clark

In 1973, ornithologist Stephen Kress on Eastern Egg Rock established the first n, Jeff Clark

In 1997, Bud Warren established the nonprofit group Maine's First Ship to constr, Matt Scease