In 1930, former Maine governor Percival Baxter bought nearly 6,000 acres around Mount Katahdin; 32 years later, his final acquisition brought his gifted parkland to 201,018 acres, now part of a 209,644-acre park

Percival P. Baxter dedicated over thirty years of his life to creating Baxter State Park in Maine, now one of North America’s largest state parks. His vision was to maintain the land’s natural beauty, thwarting industrial encroachment and promoting sustainable forestry. Though he passed away in 1969, his legacy endures as the park continues to thrive, expanding through land trades and acquisitions to cover over 209,000 acres of pristine wilderness.