National Maine Day Date in the current year: December 21, 2025

The largest state in New England, Maine is bordered by New Hampshire, the Gulf of Maine, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec. It is the only state that shares a border with only one other state. Maine’s nicknames are the “Pine Tree State”, from its abundant white pine forests, and “Vacationland”, which has been used on license plates since 1936 to promote tourism and reflects the state’s natural beauty and appeal as a summer getaway destination.

Prior to European arrival, the land that is now Maine was home to several pre-Columbian indigenous civilizations. By the time of European discovery, the primary inhabitants were the Algonquian-speaking Wabanaki peoples. The first Europeans to explore Maine’s coast were John Cabot in 1499, Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524, and Estêvão Gomes in 1525. However, it is presumed that Vikings may have reached Maine centuries before the official discovery of the New World.

The first European settlement in Maine was a French colony on Saint Croix Island, established in 1604. In 1607, English colonists from Massachusetts established their first settlement in the area, the Popham Colony. Both settlements were short-lived. The name “Maine” first appeared in 1622 when the Province of Maine was established between the Kennebec and Merrimack rivers, but the origin of the name is unclear.

Throughout the 17th century, Maine was a contested territory between France, England, and Native American tribes, especially the Wabanaki Confederacy. Warfare, disease, and land loss deeply affected these tribes during this time. By the late 1600s, England had secured control of the territory, and Maine became part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

During the 18th century, British settlement expanded slowly due to harsh winters, poor farming soil, and recurring conflicts with Native tribes and France, including the French and Indian War. Following France’s defeat in the war, it completely lost its power in the region, which led to an acceleration of large-scale English settlement driven by timber, fishing, and shipbuilding.

During the American Revolution, Maine was a major center of Patriot activity, having fewer Loyalists than most colonies. After the war, Maine remained politically tied to Massachusetts, even though its population grew rapidly in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Many residents resented being governed from Boston because of the distance, taxation, and lack of local political power.

In June 1819, the Massachusetts General Court passed legislation to separate the District of Maine from Massachusetts. The state constitution was approved in October, and Maine officially joined the Union as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.

National Maine Day, which is part of the National State Days project launched by National Day Calendar in 2017, is celebrated on December 21 and does not coincide with Maine’s actual admission anniversary. In this project, states are celebrated once a week in the order of their admission, starting with National Delaware Day on July 13.