Saint Croix: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

NPS Northeast Regional Office

Saint Croix Island International Historic Site is located in Calais, Maine, at Red Beach along the boundary between the United States and Canada. The site is comprised of a 6.5-acre island in the Saint Croix River and four mainland parcels, one of which is on the river's mainland shore. The island and this mainland parcel, also known as Red Beach, are the focus of this CLI. The total federal ownership is 29.15 acres (2004) of the 35.4 acres that are within the park's legislated boundary. The remaining 6.25 acres are privately owned. The island portion of the park, interpreted as the park's historic zone or resource, is in the form of a gently rolling plateau that sits approximately 40 feet above sea level. The plateau is mostly a grassy meadow but has successional growth woodland along much of its edges. The coastal edges of the island are a combination of sand and rock with steep slopes rising to the plateau. Two small, wooded knolls stand on the island's southern end and are cut off from the island during high tide. Cultural resources on the island relating to the 1604-05 settlement include archeological sites and landscape characteristics such as natural systems and features, topography, vegetation and views which contribute to the historic character. A Memorial Tablet (1904), commemorating the settlement, and a boat house, part of the United States Coast Guard Light Station (1856-1957) reflect the island’s later history. Historic archeological resources may also exist related to the Light Station. The Coast Guard continues to maintain a metal lattice-work radio tower at the center of the island, currently functioning as a navigational beacon. The Red Beach or mainland portion of the park acts as a visitor orientation area and access point and currently contains four parcels of land. One parcel is located across Route 1 and contains potential archeological resources. Its inclusion as part of the park is not evident to visitors and is not interpreted. The coastal portion of the Red Beach site consists of three parcels. The shore parcel contains the visitor access and interpretation area of the park including an entry road, parking area, unimproved boat ramp, open-pit toilet, maintenance shed and viewing pavilion. The pavilion is located at the east point of the site and provides views to the island. During the in-season months the pavilion contains interpretive boards regarding the 1604 island settlement. Two additional parcels have recently been acquired by the park. Parcel 01-105 contains the Robb House, for which no research has been done (the General Management Plan calls for a Determination of Eligibility). It may be used as a ranger station or visitor contact station in the future. Parcel 01-104, acquired from the Sisk family, also known as the McGlashan-Nickerson House is listed on the National Register. Therefore, one parcel of land (01-103) within the park's authorized boundary is not currently owned by the NPS. The potential exists for this parcel to some day be acquired by the NPS. In the future CLIs may be completed for one or more of these additional parcels. While the historical development and importance of the Red Beach area of the park is not interpreted to the public, it does have a rich history. This portion of the park was the location of gardens or agricultural fields implemented by the French settlers in 1604. The Red Beach cove and Beaver Brook outlet were also the site of an extensive plaster mill, granite polishing mill and ship docking facilities during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Remains of the shipping wharves are still visible today.

Saint Croix: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

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