Maine Freedom Trail Site Dedicated at MCHT's Malaga Island Preserve
MCHT, in partnership with Maine Freedom Trails Inc., hosted a dedication ceremony for Malaga Island as Maine Freedom Trail site at MCHT's Malaga Island Preserve. Speaking to a group of 40 diverse stakeholders from throughout the state who gathered on the Island, MCHT's President' Paul Gallay remarked, "Having Malaga Island permanently conserved benefits local and statewide communities. We're proud to be partnering with Maine Freedom Trails Inc., and many other organizations to assure that the public can enjoy and learn from this special place for generations to come."
Located in eastern Casco Bay, 41-acre Malaga Island was the home of a mixed race community that was forcibly removed by the State of Maine in 1912, due to racial prejudice and other pressures. In 2001 Maine Coast Heritage Trust conserved the island, thanks to a generous landowner. In recent years the Trust has partnered with the University of Southern Maine, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Maine Chapter of the NAACP, Maine Freedom Trails, Inc., and others to learn about and promote Malaga's cultural history. For more information about Malaga Island, read MCHT's overview of the Island's Natural and Cultural History.
Rachel Talbot Ross, President of Maine Freedom Trails Inc. and the Portland NAACP branch said, "Having Malaga Island as a Maine Freedom Trail site will be a permanent reminder of the compelling story of those who lived here and of the tragic story of their mistreatment. We're grateful that Maine Coast Heritage Trust has conserved this island so that it can always be a place for people to come and connect with this important chapter of Maine's history."
MCHT staff recently completed a walking trail around the island that winds through a mature spruce forest, passes through the historic community site, and affords spectacular views of the Casco Bay. The Preserve is open to the public for low-impact recreation.
