Sainte Croix Island Historic Site
After Canadian and American governments recognized the Sainte Croix Island as a significant part of their historical heritage, they signed, in 1982, an agreement in order to protect the Island's cultural and natural resources and to commemorate Sainte Croix Island’s existence by opening interpretive centres. Today, visitors can enjoy the beauty of Sainte Croix Island from two different observation platforms. By reading the interpretation panels, they can also learn more about Sainte Croix Island's history: one in New Brunswick (Canada) and another one in Maine (United States).

In Bayside (New Brunswick), visitors can quietly admire the Sainte Croix Island from a lookout located on Road 127. Parks Canada is responsible of this interpretive site. Hiking trails take visitors straight into the past, at the beginning of European colonization in North America, thanks to nine bilingual interpretation panels. The history of Sainte Croix Island, the heritage and legacy left by the French colonists are told to visitors. Built in 1996, this site was officially opened to public on August 17, 1997. Several other installations help visitors to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and their time spent there: picnic tables, viewpoint, restrooms, parking area, etc.

In the United States, Sainte Croix Island is the only International Historic Site recognized by the National Park Service (NPS) of the United States Department of the Interior. Located in Red Beach (Maine) on the U.S. 1, this second interpretation site is very important to the NPS since the colonization of the island by European settlers contributed to the creation of both Canada and the United States. The settlement of Sainte Croix Island also preceded by a few years the foundation of Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620). In 1949, the American Congress designated the Island as a national monument and then, in 1984, as an international historic site. Managed by the NPS in partnership with Acadia National Park, this site offers to visitors a splendid view on the island. By reading the interpretation panels, visitors can also learn a little more about Sainte Croix Island history and resources. Through its projects, the National Park Service wishes to improve the services offered to the visitors and to protect the Island's cultural and natural resources. To give full access to the site, the NPS will develop interpretation trails and build an access way for cars. The NPS hopes to complete the restoration work in time to celebrate, in 2004, the 400th anniversary of the first European settlement in North America.

For further information, visit http://www.stecroix2004.org or http://www.nps.gov/sacr