At the time of its longitude determination in 1866 in relation to the Greenwich Meridian , The Calais Meridian was considered one of the most precisely located places in the United States . In 1866 , the first successful transatlantic telegraphic longitude determination occurred at between the Calais Meridian and the Greenwich Meridian . This was a tremendous advance for the transfer of accurate time across the Atlantic Ocean . It provided for the precise determination of longitude at the Harvard Observatory in Massachusetts , relative to Britain ’ s Greenwich Observatory , increasing longitude accuracy throughout North America . The achievement was a major step in ultimately defining Greenwich as the zero point for the establishment of worldwide longitude values .
The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 and is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s Heritage Trail program .
Inspired by Nature
Arts , dance , music , food , stories , and customs of Downeast Maine are intricately tied to the natural resources , geology , and scenic beauty . Raw materials inspire both utilitarian products and artworks . Natural phenomena such as seasons , harvests , and celestial events inspire community events .
Contemporary Passamaquoddy artists continue to utilize long-standing techniques , although many pieces are considered art today and no longer meant for use as everyday objects . Two examples include Molly Neptune Parker , a Passamaquoddy basket maker and National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage fellow , was the matriarch of four generations of Passamaquoddy basket makers , and Molly ’ s grandchild , Geo Neptune , now a Master Basket maker .
The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor is the primary venue for viewing , learning about , and purchasing Wabanahki arts . The annual Indian Market provides a forum for Indian artists and performers to connect with the community to educate about and sell their wares .
The Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance is a collective that fosters the preservation of traditional basket making practices . The Alliance was created in 1993 after tribal basketmakers from the four federally recognized tribes in Maine ( Maliseet , Mi ’ kmaq , Passamaquoddy , and Penobscot ) realized there were fewer than a dozen weavers younger than the age of 50 statewide amongst a tribal population of 6,000 .
The National Park Service Tribal Preservation Program assists Indian tribes in preserving their historic properties and cultural traditions through the designation of Tribal Historic Preservation
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