Down East

[1] The National Heritage Area will help preserve more historic and cultural sites in Hancock and Washington counties.

Primarily used to transport wheat and other goods from California to European markets, Downeasters were characteristically built in Maine, and their captains often came from the state.

A significant part of Maine's maritime legacy, they were among the last prominent sailing ships built before steamships came to dominate the industry.

[16] While steamships may have supplanted sailing ships in some contexts, this prominence just before the decline led Maine boatbuilders to remain in demand for sailing yachts and motor yachts; a common modern design influenced by coastal Maine's ubiquitous lobster boats is made by several manufacturers under names resembling 'Downeaster'.

Largely due to its inhospitable climate and remoteness, Downeast Maine remained one of the state's least developed areas throughout the 20th century.

[5] In more recent years, Downeast Maine and the Greater Portland area have emerged as an important center for the creative economy,[17] which is also bringing gentrification.

[18] In Canada, "Down East", often written as two words, refers to the Maritime Provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

The style is closely associated with New Brunswick native Don Messer, who hosted a radio show on Prince Edward Island beginning in 1939 and had a wide influence over fiddle music in Canada.