Skowhegan - town in Somerset County, Maine, United States

Skowhegan is a village of 8,600 people (2020) on the banks of the Kennebec River in Maine.

Understand

History

Skowhegan is a name given to this place by the Abenaki, who used to live there before they were attacked and dispossessed by the white man. It means "watching place" in their language, and referred to the good fishing there was on the Kennebec River.

Skowhegan became a flourishing mill town with a big shoe factory. But unlike many deindustrialized cities in the Northeast, it still has a shoe factory — for New Balance — and a functioning paper mill.

Get in

The nearest large airport is in Portland, which is 90 mi (145 km) away.

Skowhegan is:

• about 55 mi (85 km) west of Bangor on State Highway 2
• about 49 mi (69 km) north of Augusta on Interstate 95 and Route 104

The nearest bus terminal is in Waterville, about 16 mi (27 km) away.

Get around

• Skow Town Taxi, +1 207 431-7379

See

• Skowhegan Indian Sculpture, 44.76778°, -69.71981°. 2019-09-30
• Skowhegan History House, 66 Elm St, 44.765556°, -69.725556°, +1 207 474-6632, info@skowheganhistoryhouse.org. An early area house that hosts a museum of local history. 2019-09-30

Do

• Eaton Mountain, 89 Lambert Rd, 44.7681°, -69.6194°, +1 207 474-2666. Ski and snowtubing facility. 2019-09-30
• Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, 39 Art School Road, Madison, +1 207 474-9345, Mail@Skowheganart.org. Has a 9-week program every summer. If you are a young artist, you can apply, and if you're an art-lover, you can check on whether there are any shows while you're in town. 2019-09-30
• Skowhegan Fair, 33 Constitution Ave, 44.7776°, -69.7304°, +1 207 474-2947, office@skowheganstatefair.com. 2019-09-30
• Strand Cinema, 44.76664°, -69.71763°. 2019-09-30

Buy

• Skowhegan Farmer's Market, 44.76692°, -69.71856°. 2019-09-30
• Skowhegan Village Shopping Center, 44.78332°, -69.73037°. 2019-09-30

Eat

• Alice's Restaurant, 101 North Ave, +1 207-858-4448. Daily 5AM-2PM. 2019-09-30
• Gifford's Ice Cream and Mini Golf Course, 44.78256°, -69.72628°, +1 207 474-2257. An ice cream stand with a mini golf course in the back. Open seasonally 2019-09-30
• The Bankery, 87 Water St, 44.76529°, -69.71849°, +1 207 474-2253. M-Sa 7:30AM-6PM. A bakery in a former bank building. Aside from sweets, they sell breads, soups, and coffee. 2019-09-30

Drink

• Southside Tavern, 44.76233°, -69.71692°. 2019-09-30
• Old Mill Pub, 39 Water St, +1 207 474-6627. Serves draft beer from area breweries, pretzels, and seafood with a patio overlooking the river. Occasionally hosts live music. 2019-09-30

Sleep

• Towne Motel, 44.7732°, -69.7234°. 2019-09-30
• Belmont Motel, 273 Madison Ave, 44.78068°, -69.72524°, +1 207 474-8315. 2019-09-30

Connect

• Skowhegan Free Public Library, 9 Elm St, 44.766111°, -69.720833°, +1 207 474-9072, skowlib@skowhegan.lib.me.us. Free 2019-09-30
• Skowhegan Post Office, 44.76679°, -69.71637°. 2019-09-30

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