Colonial Pemaquid

August 4 lecture highlights Native American canoe routes in Maine

Mon, 07/28/2014 - 11:30am

Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site will continue its summer lecture series on Pemaquid’s Place in the Colonial World with an evening program entitled, “The Indian Canoe Routes of Maine,” on Monday, Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Narrating this fascinating story will be Maine educator David Cook.

The lecture will focus on the importance of the birch bark canoe to Maine’s Native Americans and how they constructed these lightweight marvels. His talk will include the story of the transport of the captive John Giles from Pemaquid to an encampment on the St. John River. To further illustrate his talk, Cook will draw on his own experiences of paddling and carrying across the headwaters of Maine’s primary rivers, as well as a unique crossing of the Bay of Fundy.

Cook is a resident of Winthrop and has taught history/social studies at the high school and college level since 1970. During his teaching career he has emphasized the pre-contact and early European colonial period of Maine history. From his childhood growing up in Milo, David has been fascinated by nature as well as artifacts from the distant past. His early interest intensified with the local discovery of the oldest known Native American fish camp in Maine.

Sponsored by the Friends of Colonial Pemaquid, this program will take place at The Contented Sole Restaurant, adjacent to the museum. Admission is $5, and free for members. Membership applications will be available. Visitors are encouraged to return to the grounds of Colonial Pemaquid on Wednesday, Aug. 6 for the final evening lantern walk of the season at 8 p.m. Rain date is Thursday, Aug. 7.

Colonial Pemaquid is located off Route 130 in New Harbor, approximately 12 miles south of Route 1 and 3 miles north of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.

For more information, visit www.friendsofcolonialpemaquid.org, or you may contact the park manager at 207-677-2423.