In 2020, Maine celebrated 200 years of statehood. To mark the occasion, the Office of Tourism was looking to encourage visitation to help celebrate the bicentennial. Print in outdoor and travel magazines served as the state’s official invitation to adventure seekers.

Far be it for humble Mainer’s to toot their own horn too much. But a bicentennial is a pretty big deal that deserves to be celebrated. Just without all of the pomp and circumstance you might expect from any one of the other 49 states. We had to acknowledge the special occasion, and do it in a way that exuded pride, but didn’t come off as too boastful. We also wanted to highlight what people have loved about the state for the past two centuries – the abundance of natural resources and diverse landscapes.

Despite the travel-crippling pandemic, interest in Maine as destination remained strong. Visitation to visitmaine.com saw increases. And even though many of the bicentennial celebrations were cancelled, Mainers still found a way to celebrate. By rediscovering and reconnecting with the place they call home.