One of the crowning jewels in the State of Maine is the beautiful
landscape between the State House and the Kennebec River known
as Capitol Park.
It is the earliest known, consciously designed public ground in
Maine. The spatial structures of Capitol Park was established
in 1827, the same year in which the Legislature approved a permanent
seat of the government be established in Augusta.
The act approved on February 24, 1827, placed the sum of $500
at the disposal of the Governor and Council "to enable them
to cause such a lot as may be chosen to be improved, fenced and
ornamented with forest trees."
The final selection was a 34-acre lot on the west bank of the
Kennebec at the head of tide 40 miles inland, in the town of Augusta.
Charles Bulfinch, Architect of the Capitol, proposed a site plan
for the immediate Capitol grounds designating them on a conical
elevation at the northwestern corner of the lot with access roads.
The balance of the property, a rectangle of approximately 20 acres,
was fenced off to keep out cattle and planted with rows of forest
trees from the Capitol site to the River.
The intent of the design was to create a dignified setting for
viewing the State Capitol Building along with other public functions.
That role is still being carried on today.
In looking back, the Park has survived many historic uses. During
the Civil War it was used as a camp site and parade ground. After
the war the land was leased for farming, but by 1878 the site
was restored to its former appearance.
In 1851 the railroad bisected the lower end of the Park, a use
which has been abandoned. Then in 1920 Frederick Law Olmsted's
firm was commissioned by Governor Miliken to prepare a plan for
the Capitol grounds, Capitol Park, the adjoining Driving Park
to the south and neighboring Blaine House grounds.
According to the plan, Capitol park would be used passively; and
the adjoining municipal park would provide opportunity for activity,
thus joining the two parks into one.
Although the plan was never fully implemented, the Olmstead concept
has set a course for which there is a strong following. With that
awareness, plans are underway to restore and preserve this hidden
inheritance and to encourage wide spread use by the citizens of
Maine.