New Campus Heritage Map

A new campus heritage map, highlighting historic landmarks and other points of interest, is now available. The four-color map was developed by a group of UMaine faculty members and staff. The project was made possible by a $7,500 gift from an anonymous donor through The University of Maine Foundation.

The map features short descriptions of many campus buildings and sights, notes distinguished accomplishments of alumni and faculty, and locates a selection of tree species on campus. The heritage map also outlines a walking tour of campus, all in an effort to convey the historic importance of the University.

The map includes descriptions of Coburn Hall and Carnegie Hall, two former homes of The University of Maine library. Coburn Hall, built in 1888, was named after Governor Abner Coburn, who donated $100,000 to found a library and finance the building's construction. Built of red brick in the Romanesque Revival style, Coburn Hall is trimmed with red Portland sandstone dating from the Triassic age (225 million years old). The building's architect, Bangor native and University of Maine alumnus Franklin Kidder (Class of 1879), gained a national reputation for the publication of Kidder's Architects' and Builders' Handbook, a standard reference book. Coburn sports an ivy-shaped plaque that commemorates "Ivy Day." a UMaine tradition in which students planted ivy to celebrate their commencement. After the library was relocated, the building housed the natural science and agriculture departments, and it is now home to many different programs, including the Wild Blueberry Commission and the Potato Association of America. 

Students study in Coburn Hall, which served as the University's library from 1888 to 1907.

Andrew Carnegie donated $50,000 to construct Carnegie Hall as the campus library in 1907. This was the first building whose primary purpose was to support library services. Carnegie Hall was one of Maine's five academic and 18 public libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Corporation. In 1947 the library moved to what is now the Raymond H. Fogler Library, and the University renovated Carnegie Hall to hold the art collection and provide the Department of Art with studios for instruction. Today, the University's Art Museum contains nearly 6,000 pieces of art, the largest fine arts collection owned entirely by the citizens of Maine.

If you would like a copy of the heritage map, please contact Friends Coordinator Gretchen Gfeller at 581-1696.