Why Maine’s Matinicus Isle Feels Like Stepping Back 100 Years in Time

In a current time of wicked fast internet, crowded tourist spots, and a lot of constant change, there is one place in Maine hasn’t changed much for over a 100 years.  

This beautiful spot is located 23 miles off the coast of Rockland, called Matinicus Isle and is one of the most remote places on the East Coast, in Knox County, Maine.

It surprised me to learn that life there, really hasn’t changed much in the last century. That's not just a saying, there are real examples everywhere you look. 

AlpenDrone gives us a beautiful look at the Isle from the sky via YouTube.

Get this, the island still relies almost entirely on lobster fishing, just as it did for many generations ago.

At one point, the population once was 250 year round residents, but today, fewer than 20 people call the island home year-round! But, the lobster industry remains to be the backbone of this local economy. 

A Lobster Fishing Community Frozen in Time

It's kind of incredible to think that while most of us are living in a world of smartphones, streaming services, and constant connectivity, this tiny Maine island still generates its own electricity.

There are no chain stores, no traffic lights, and not even paved roads. In many ways, Matinicus feels less like a place that's been left behind and more like a place that's chosen to hold on to a simpler way of life.

The island has this one room school house and it's not just there for historic purposes, to this day, it is still in use. It serves kiddos through 8th grad before they head to the mainland for high school. 

The local church was built in 1906 and also still remains a place for the community more than a century later. 

Even getting there feels like traveling back in time.

Read More: How Maine Ranks Fifth In Boating Storm Preparedness 

If you want to visit, you jump onto a ferry or a small puddle jumper plane. I can't imagine what the winters are like, especially when deliveries could be delayed for days or even weeks. 

There are no restaurants, resorts, or major attractions here. Just a post office, a general store, working lobster boats, and a way of life that's becoming increasingly rare. 

And maybe that's exactly what makes Matinicus so special.