Augusta - Maine - Culture

The University of Maine at Augusta, one of seven institutions governed by the Trustees of the University of Maine System , is a single institution, geographically dispersed, committed to teaching and learning, which provides access to educational programs and workforce training, both through traditional and interactive electronic instruction, at multiple campuses, centres, and distance learning sites throughout the state, in selected baccalaureate and associate degree programs offered individually and cooperatively with other public and private institutions of higher learning.

University of Maine at Augusta was established in 1965 as a regional centre for the University of Maine's Continuing Education Division. In 1971 the University of Maine System Board of Trustees established the University of Maine at Augusta as a separate and autonomous campus. University of Maine at Augusta currently has campuses in Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn. Additionally, UMA provides off-campus education at Centres located in the Bath-Brunswick, East Millinocket, Ellsworth, Rumford-Mexico, Saco, Sanford and Thomaston areas. Designated by the Board of Trustees as the community college of the University of Maine System in 1985, the University of Maine at Augusta is one of seven campuses in the system; each campus complements and collaborates with the other six institutions in the System to fulfil the needs of public higher education in the State of Maine.

The University of Maine at Augusta offers courses and support services to students of all ages from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds. The institution offers academic programs in the liberal arts, fine and performing arts, nursing and allied health and a variety of other areas. These provide opportunities for personal growth and development and prepare students for transfer to other institutions, graduate study, and career preparation and mobility. UMA is particularly committed both to recent high school graduates and to Maine's adult population, many of whom attend college on a part-time basis. UMA's staff desires to develop in its students the capacity to succeed in college. We assess student skills, offer developmental work when needed, and design courses based on the educational concept which emphasizes learning as a life-long process.

The Lithgow Public Library , located on the corner of Winthrop and State Streets, is a Romanesque-Renaissance structure built of Maine granite in 1895 and listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The Library offers more than 50,000 books, plus magazines, audio visual materials and reading programs for children and adults. In 1996, a MultiLis computerized catalogue system was completed for the Library's collection, and Internet access in provided on-site.

The Augusta Civic Centre , described as the finest convention facility north of Boston, is a multi-purpose building that hosts major area events such as concerts, trade shows, seminars, meetings and conferences. The Centre's 25,500 square foot auditorium and 25 meeting rooms are conveniently located off the Augusta/Belgrade exit of I-95, within easy driving distance from all Maine's major population centers.

Augusta State Airport, Dufresne-Henry, designed an overlay to primary Runway 17-35. In addition to improving the overall surface condition of the runway, the project was designed to implement a method of improving skid resistance for aircraft operations. Consequently, a porous friction course, gap-graded, bituminous pavement was selected. This pavement allows for water to seep below its surface and dissipate slowly through the pavement edges. As a result, water is not able to 'sheet' across or 'pond' on the pavement, which improves aircraft traction.

Established through a legislative act in 1971, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission is the state agency which functions as the State Historic Preservation Office in Maine. As such, the Commission is responsible for the identification, evaluation, and protection of Maine's significant cultural resources as directed by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The Commission oversees the state-wide survey program, nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places, reviews development activities for their effect on cultural resources, co-ordinates rehabilitation projects under the Preservation Tax Incentives Program, assists local governments in survey work and the design of preservation guidelines, and is involved in a variety of public education activities.
Old Fort Western is a restored French and Indian War period fort on the bank of the Kennebec River. Built in 1754, the fort became the centre of the community that would become Maine's capital city. Restored by the Gannett family in 1922 and given to the city as a museum, the fort is a National Historic Landmark.