A national tour of vintage cars will travel through Aroostook County, turning Maine into a mobile heritage scene.
Organized by the Antique Automobile Club of America, the AACA Eastern Divisional Tour announces Substantial economic benefits for local communities.
The rural roads to Presque Isle, Fort Kent, and Mars Hill promise Scenic rural routes and breathtaking views for the crews.
A winding route connects museums, airports, and villages, where history, stories, and Rolling heritage and living history of Maine come to the fore.
Between a musical street fair, tales of the Aroostook War, and Theodore Roosevelt, the event amplifies tourism, friendliness, and transmission.
| Quick Summary | |
|---|---|
| • | National tour of vintage cars through Aroostook County. |
| • | Period: from Tuesday to Friday (August 12-15). |
| • | Organizers: Maine Region AACA and Presque Isle Historical Society. |
| • | Participants: more than 50 crews; vehicles from 1932 to 2000. |
| • | Context: returning after the success of 2023 (30 vehicles, years 1900-1932). |
| • | Local impact: increase in tourism and spending (hotels, restaurants, fuel, sites). |
| • | Route: rural roads of northern Maine, from Patten to St. John Valley. |
| • | Visited sites: Mont Carmel Cultural Museum (Lille), Patten Lumbermen’s Museum, Loring Commerce Centre, James School, Maysville Museum, Presque Isle Air Museum. |
| • | Conferences: Aroostook War, Theodore Roosevelt, Double Eagle II, Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery. |
| • | Public event: Thursday 6:30 PM–8 PM, street fair with Star City Syndicate, food trucks, and local artists. |
| • | Key routes: Tue. Ashland → Van Buren; Wed. Littleton → Ashland; Thu. Fort Fairfield → Spragueville; Fri. Loring → Presque Isle Air Museum. |
| • | Dynamics: newer models, faster and longer trips, more stops. |
| • | National presence: participants from Virginia, Arizona, Louisiana, Carolinas, New York, New Jersey; presence of national president David Anspach. |
| • | AACA: 90th anniversary, over 400 regions/chapters; Maine region based in Presque Isle (Craig Green). |
| • | Call to the public: residents invited to line the streets to greet the parade. |
| • | Contact: Craig Green — craig@crgins.net. |
A procession of vintage vehicles takes to the road
The Maine Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Presque Isle Historical Society are orchestrating a nationwide tour. The AACA Eastern Divisional Tour brings together cars produced between 1932 and 2000, ready to traverse the northern Maine.
More than fifty crews rally in northern Maine.
The Aroostook County hosts this gathering for the second time, buoyed by the enthusiasm generated in 2023. Thirty crews had then aligned models from 1900-1932; this year, over fifty cars form a true rolling museum.
Economic and tourist ripple effect
Hoteliers, restaurateurs, gas stations, and heritage sites will benefit from a measurable influx of revenue throughout the County. An increased fleet means more local purchases and strengthens visitors’ propensity to return.
The local benefits are expected to be substantial for the County.
The crews appreciate the rural roads of Aroostook, whose tranquility and vastness enhance the drive of classic machines. From Patten to the St. John Valley, the route combines landscapes, local histories, culinary stops, and encounters.
Route and highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Tuesday, August 12, departure at 8:30 AM for Ashland, then at 9:15 AM Portage and 10:30 AM Fort Kent. Then 11:15 AM St. Agatha, 1:45 PM Madawaska, 2:30 PM Lille, and 3:30 PM Van Buren.
Wednesday, August 13, stops at 8:45 AM Littleton, 9:15 AM Houlton Airport, and 10:15 AM Oakfield. Then at 11 AM Sherman, 11:30 AM Patten, and 2:30 PM Ashland for the southern loop.
Thursday, August 14, 9:30 AM Fort Fairfield and 10:30 AM Easton kick off the day. Then at 11:30 AM Mars Hill and 2 PM Spragueville complete the scheduled eastern route.
Friday, August 15, 9 AM Loring starts the day, then noon Limestone hosts the convoy. After that, 1:30 PM Maysville and 2 PM Presque Isle Air Museum wrap up the route before the final banquet.
Visited sites and content
The program includes the Mont Carmel Cultural Museum in Lille, the Patten Lumberman’s Museum, and the Loring Commerce Centre. In Presque Isle, the group visits the James School, the Maysville Museum, and the local air museum.
Conferences will cover the Aroostook War, Theodore Roosevelt‘s connections to the area, and the saga of Double Eagle II. One segment will also recount the Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery, an unusual yet memorable news story.
A mobilized community
Residents and onlookers are invited to line the streets to greet the parade at the announced times. On Thursday, a street fair from 6:30 PM to 8 PM enlivens downtown.
The music of Star City Syndicate, food trucks, and local creators enhance the friendly atmosphere.
On Thursday evening, downtown turns into an open-air salon.
Crews are arriving from Arizona, Louisiana, Carolinas, New York, and New Jersey. National president David Anspach and his wife join the convoy from Virginia, reflecting a strong commitment.
Couples return with new models, charmed by the welcome, local cuisine, and musical programming. The Eastern Divisional edition, unprecedented in Aroostook County, features newer vehicles capable of covering greater distances.
The organization and associative roots
The AACA celebrates its 90th anniversary and brings together nearly 400 regions and chapters across the continent. The Maine region, the only entity in the state, is based in Presque Isle, presided over by Craig Green (contact: craig@crgins.net).
Heritage inspirations and compared routes
The heritage routes are illuminated by comparison with a preserved charming medieval French town or an unknown village in Vaucluse.
Artisan trails nurture this endeavor, such as a village in Lot of Middle Ages artisans, where authenticity reigns.
Distant horizons finally remind us of the universal scope of wanderings, between visits and experiences in Colombo and getaway to Baku.
