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6 Things You Probably Don't Know About Augusta
Augusta Sign (Google Maps)
If you've lived in Maine for any length of time, you probably know that Augusta is the state's capital city. You may also know that the city is on the Kennebec River and is home to MaineGeneral and the University of Maine Augusta. But, there are so many other cool things about Augusta.
Here are six fun facts that you can share with your friends, family, and coworkers.
1 - Original Names - In September 1607, when the European settlers first came to the area, they named it Cushnoc, the Native American word for "head of the tide". In 1771, Cushnoc became part of Hallowell, but split off to become Augusta in 1797. The city is named after the daughter of Henry Dearborn, a statesman and Revolutionary War general who was with Benedict Arnold during his attack on Quebec.
2 - You Can Fly From Augusta To Anywhere - Given its small size, it may be kind of surprising that you can fly from Augusta's airport to basically anywhere. Well, sort of. Cape Air services Augusta State Airport and has daily flights to Boston's Logan International Airport. From Logan, you can get basically anywhere in the world. On top of that, fares are very reasonable.
3 - Famous Residents - The city has been the home (and/or birthplace) of several well-known people including actress Rachel Nichols (Alias, Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants 2. the green alien that Chris Pine was with in Star Trek, and The Man In The High Castle), Patriots' defensive end Derek Rivers, and Olympian luger Julia Clukey, to name just a few.
4 - First Performance Of Stars And Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" was first performed at Augusta's city hall on May 1st, 1897. It is important to note that, when it was performed in Augusta, it did not yet have a name. Because of this, many sources list the first time "Stars And Stripes Forever" as being played publicly as Philadelphia on May 14th.
5 - The Marketplace - Located on the hills above Civic Center Drive, The Marketplace at Augusta has over 4 dozen stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues - making it the largest shopping complex north of Portland. Notable businesses include Kohl's, TJ Maxx, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gamestop, Spectrum, and Ulta Beauty.
6 - Colonial Theater - A true piece of Central Maine history, from 1913 to 1969, Augusta's Colonial Theater entertained thousands of the area's residents. Until "talkies" were introduced in 1929, the theater featured silent movies accompanied by live music. In the late teens and early twenties, it hosted the premieres of locally made movies (back then, not EVERYTHING was made in Hollywood or New York). The building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2014 and is currently being restored. Once complete, it will host live music concerts and other shows.
Source: 6 Things You Probably Don't Know About Augusta
Filed Under: augusta, boston, Colonial Theater, Cushnoc, Elevation Burger, Five Below, Gamestop, Julia Clukey, kohls, Kume, Maine, MaineGeneral, Marketplace at Augusta, New England Patriots, olive garden, UMA
Categories: Newsletter, Offbeat
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