History & Culture

Three members of Wabanaki Youth in Science crew in the monument.

NPS/G. Kirk

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is located within the present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation. The names of the many prominent features in the area speak to the Penobscot presence, and the historical record illustrates their influence and involvement in events that shaped the region. The land and waters are inextricably linked with Penobscot culture, ceremonies, oral traditions, language, and history. Indigenous stewardship continues the respectful relationship with the land and waterways for over 11,000 years.

The monument is at the center of connecting watersheds, which provided important travel routes for the Wabanaki peoples of Maine. The area and the immediate surrounding landscape are considered sacred by and are vitally linked with the cultural practices, ceremonial activities, and oral traditions of the Wabanaki people. The land, water, plants, and wildlife continue to be inextricably linked with Wabanaki culture, traditions, and a continued respectful relationship with the area.

The geology within the monument showcases the large and powerful events that helped shape the landscape, including the rise of the Appalachian Mountain range and nearby Katahdin (ktàtən – Penobscot). Katahdin is held sacred by the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Nations, and the geology within and around the monument is central to oral histories, traditions, and cultural practices for each Tribal community.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument represents Maine’s history of logging, which dates back to the early 1600s. The rivers and streams in the monument provided critical transportation moving logs from the woods to the mills. Temporary logging camps were constructed throughout the monument.

 

Cultural Landscape

The sacred sites or places that are part of Penobscot culture, locations of log-driving dams and campsites, existing historic structures, logging roads, campsites, and many other resources that are part of the historical activities that occurred within the monument and on surrounding lands are considered elements of a cultural landscape that provide access to and use of the area’s natural resources and scenic beauty.