Acadian Village in Van Buren
First Things First
For the sake of transparency, my visit to the Acadian Village in Van Buren, Maine was unique because I had a personal interest and connection to it. My paternal grandmother was Acadian. For locals who are curious as to the specifics: my fifth great-grandfather was Charles Boniface Roy who passed away in Van Buren in 1847. Having shared this disclaimer with its potential bias, I feel confident stating that this location will be fascinating to anyone seeking to learn more about Acadian history and culture, especially within the St. John Valley region in Aroostook County.
The purpose of this feature is not to give you a history of the Acadian people, but rather to make you aware of this site which is dedicated to their heritage. In case you didn't hear this in history class: the Cajuns of Louisiana are also Acadian with similar roots to those in Northern Maine.
If you’re looking for a gem of a book on this area, Acadian Roots: Images of the St. John Valley* is worth checking out. It features the stunning photography of Paul Cyr, a name which is likely very familiar to locals.
*This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. This is at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support of the Maine Features journey.
What Acadian Village Is, and Isn’t…
Let's get to the site. It is challenging to describe the Acadian Village. It is not a living history museum. While there are tour guides available, there are no actors reenacting life in the village.
It is a museum, but not one that is housed in a single building.
It was not a village that existed on these grounds in the past. The Acadian village was created to showcase and preserve this culture and history.
It's understandable if you haven’t randomly stumbled across the Acadian Village. You can pull out your Maine Gazetteer for a refresher on the location; Van Buren is way up there! But folks have been finding their way to it for quite some time. The village opened in 1976 and earned an award from the State of Maine for "Best Bicentennial Project." It has federal recognition, too, as a historic national landmark.
The Acadian flag at the entrance to the village.
A Treasure Trove of History
When you arrive on the grounds you will see sixteen historic structures set up very much like a small village center. The staff will give you a handy notebook with helpful background information on each site. As mentioned earlier, tour guides are available to take you through the village, if you like.
What will be readily apparent early in your visit is that a tremendous amount of work has been invested in this place. The phrase "labor of love" is fitting. A few of the buildings were disassembled in other places and carefully reconstructed on these grounds. Others were moved here from other towns. Yes, as in entire buildings! Some are originals. Others are replicas. Unless you’re an expert, you won’t be able to figure out which is which.
The buildings are filled with more things to look at than you could possible see in one day. An astonishing number of items have been donated by many families of Acadian heritage. Some of their names and backgrounds are included in various places throughout the village. The majority of pieces are everyday objects that local people used either long ago or in more recent years. All of them together tell the fascinating story of the Acadian people.
You can stroll through these buildings to your heart’s content!
Around Acadian Village
At the time of my visit in the summer of 2021, the village was comprised of the following:
Five homes from various periods of time. One of them included a post office; another contained a toy museum.
An industrial building dedicated to grist mills, wood carding mills, and feed grinding mills.
A Catholic chapel built of logs.
A barn.
A blacksmith shop.
A one-room schoolhouse.
A shoe shop.
A barber shop inside a general store.
A dress shop.
A room dedicated to those who have served in the military.
A carpentry shop.
An art museum.
A gift shop.
A rec center.
A railroad station.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, and due to the fact that we’re aiming for a blog post—not a book, I’ll include some photos below to give you a peek inside the village.
A few closing thoughts beforehand:
One of the most unusual features of the Acadian Village is that the exhibits are very accessible. Few spaces are roped off. You are able to see the items up close. At times, it feels like you’re simply stepping into a neighbor’s home. There are some mannequins along the way that—if you’re not expecting them—can momentarily make you feel like an intruder that has just walk in on someone. I may, or may not, have been startled on a couple of occasions. But in all seriousness, this unrestricted aspect of the village provides you with an unusually authentic and interactive experience.
If you are visiting on a very warm day, do plan accordingly since you're not going to find air conditioning!
The hours and ticket costs can be found on the Acadian Village website.
My thanks to staff members Doreen and Anne who were so kind and helpful. I am astonished that the village is run by only a couple of staff, three tour guides, and a board. These dedicated individuals have truly poured their hearts into this special place. If you are local to the area and interested in helping to preserve the Acadian Village for the next generation, be sure to reach out to them for ways you can be involved.
And now for the smallest of glimpses into Acadian Village—just enough to prompt you to plan your own visit.
I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. Check to see if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits. To learn more about this journey, see the about page. You can easily stay updated on this adventure by signing up for my emails via the box below. Thanks for coming along!
