Baxter State Park is the result of a dream of former Governor Percival P. Baxter who donated the first parcel of land in 1931 and over the years added various parcels until his final acquisition in 1962 brought the Park’s area to 201,018 acres. Since then, the Authority has purchased and been gifted additional acreage to bring the Park to its current size of 209,501 acres.
There are over 40 peaks and ridges besides Katahdin in the Park. The trail system features over 215 miles of trails popular with hikers, mountain climbers and naturalists.
Roughly 60,000 people visit the park in the summer months. As visitation increases and the world becomes more complex, Park managers face new challenges daily that threaten to undermine the magnificent gift that Baxter left for all generations of Maine citizens to cherish.
Selected Baxter State Park images:
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Percival Baxter and Katahdin, ca. 1962
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Percival Baxter's birch bark fish outline, 1884
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Mr. Wells, Maine woods, 1900
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At campsite, near Millinocket, ca. 1900
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Charles A. Cary and Austin Cary, 1906
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Great Northern Hotel, Millinocket, ca. 1930
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Gov. Baxter political ribbon, 1922
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Packing board, Baxter State Park, ca. 1960
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Smoke from fire, Baxter State Park, 1977
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Les Prindall and Lucille Stark, Baxter State Park, 1953
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Maurice Day, Baxter State Park, ca. 1940
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Pamola Peak, Katahdin, Baxter State Park, ca. 1933