Aug
31
50 Years of 50 States: Maine
By
Nickname: The Pine Tree State
Date Joined: March 15, 1820 (23rd)
Capital: Augusta
Map of Maine
- The original capital of Maine was Portland. The capital was moved to Augusta in 1832, which is more centrally located within the state.
- The first daily rays of sunlight to reach the United States land in Maine. The exact location of the first sunlight varies throughout the year as the sunrise moves from South to North. According to Wikipedia:
- Henry Knox, the first U.S. Secretary of War, hailed from Maine.
- Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American Major League Baseball player, was born in Maine.
- Maine is the only state in the lower 48 to only border one other state. Maine shares its western border with New Hampshire.
- There are no officials colors on the flag of Maine, so there are noticeable variations between manufacturers.
From October 7 to March 6, Cadillac Mountain is first. From March 7 to March 24, West Quoddy Head is first in the country. Warmer months, March 25 to September 18, Mars Hill sees first light. Then, when the sun starts getting lower in the sky, The country’s day begins between September 19 to October 6 back at West Quoddy Head.
Flag of Maine
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Part of Alaska crosses the international date-line, meaning the vary tip of the Aleutian Chain of islands in Alaska actually sees the first rays of daylight, as the day rolls over when it hits the date-line. Another interesting fact, Alaska is the most Western, Most northern, and Most EASTERN state in the United States for this same reason.
Actually, that’s false. The International Date Line goes around the Aleutian Islands so that the entire U.S. stays on the same date.
Yes, but all artificial agreements between Russia and the US aside that move the line, part of the Aleutian chain does cross the 180th meridian, meaning that both of us are right.
James, I understand where you are coming from, but the IDT is a man-made construct that has moved many times in its ~500 year existence. It’s like the time zones that don’t perfectly follow any meridian. Therefore, the dateline doesn’t cross the U.S., and 1st sunrise is in Maine.