This Hike Takes You To A Place Maine's First Residents Left Behind
By Michelle|Published January 12, 2019
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
Maine’s history is long and quite interesting. From a historic hotel where Prohibition-era politician engaged in things they’d never dream of today (okay, let’s be honest, they would definitely do some of this stuff) to this old tavern where Maine became a state, there are quite a few places to visit that will provide a glimpse of what happened long before we were here. But, before any settlers were here and even before many Native American people arrived, The Red Paint People called this area home. This wildlife refuge offers a small glimpse into this group, of which very little is known.
Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is located in Alton, Maine.
The 2,400-acre nature preserve, includes both the Pushaw and Dead Streams, as well as the Lac D’Or Lake and vast wetland areas. Visitors have the opportunity to explore bogs, maple and juniper swamps along with a mixed hardwood and evergreen forest.
The area is only about ten miles from University of Maine Orono and about 20 minutes from Bangor, making it a popular day trip destination for area families year round.
What's especially important about this area is that it was once a dwelling place of the Red Paint People who are believed to have lived in Maine from 2,000 to 6,000 years ago.
The first documented research about this relatively unknown group came in 1892 when Harvard Archaeologist, Charles Willoughby, made visits to Red Paint People grave sites in Bucksport, Alamoosook Lake and Ellsworth.
While very little is still known about the Red Paint People, we do know that they were likely hunters, fishermen and boat builders. Their burial sites contain a red coloring that would have been transported for many miles, signifying that it was probably very important to them. The same red paint has been found in burial sites in places like Europe as well and it's believed that the people were related to those in Maine.
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The Wabanaki Trail, which is an easy 0.6-0.7 loop, lead through a coniferous forest as well as a short journey on a boardwalk through a beaver dam. But, even more notable is that this trail leads through the site of a former Red Paint people village believed to be about 7,000 years old!
The Hirundo Wildlife Preserve is currently working to do more work to uncover information about The Red Paint People. It's still unclear why they disappeared and why the red paint was so important to them.
Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is located at 15 Hudson Rd., Alton, Maine. They can be reached on 207-394-2171 and you can learn more about the area on their website. Stay up to date on what’s happening by following them on Facebook. The refuge is open every day from 9 a.m. to dusk.
Maine’s only Smithsonian-affiliated museum is dedicated to preserving knowledge and education about Maine’s native people. Click here to learn all about it and plan you visit.
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