Mainers have long believed that the world revolves around Vacationland. At least it does for us! If the rest of the world doesn’t agree, we recommend they take a visit to The County where they might find proof that we’re right. Tucked up in Houlton, visitors will find a unique attraction that is largely missing from the guidebooks. For a unique experience that most visitors to Maine don’t see, check out the solar system model which can be driven in about one hour! Click here for the directions, but keep in mind that some of the planets sit in fields rather than businesses with addresses. Regardless, this should give you a good send of where to drive.
We have the University of Maine at Presque Isle to thank for this unique attaction in The County!
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr The planetary model was created by local high school and technical school students directed by The University to bring more attention to their area of Maine.
The 1 to 93,000,000 scale means the model exists over about 40 miles. It was constructed of sculpted and painted planets on top of tall poles in a scaled distance from each other.
To see the model solar system, you’ll first want to head to Northern Maine Museum of Science.
oursolarsystem / Flickr
The universe can’t exist without the sun and in smack inside the science museum is the largest of the models - the sun!
Cynthia R / TripAdvisor From here the model travels across the willywags, highways and byways of Maine in exactly the right representative distances.
After seeing the sun in the museum, head to nearby Burrelle’s Garden for a glimpse of Mercury, followed closely by Venus outside the Budget Traveler Motor Inn
Cynthia R / TripAdvisor
Next it’s on to the Earth and moon at Percy’s Auto Sales.
Cynthia R / TripAdvisor
Little Mars sits next to the “Welcome to Presque Isle” sign.
Cynthia R / TripAdvisor
About 5 miles from the sun, sits Jupiter in a field.
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
You’ll find Saturn at Westfield near Mars Hill.
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
And Uranus sits outside the Bridgewater Town Hall.
Cynthia R / TripAdvisor
Beautifully painted Neptune sits about 30 miles from the sun, on the west side of the highway in Littleton.
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
And, finally, tiny Pluto and Charon sit mounted inside the Houlton Information Center.
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
This is truly a fun and interesting way to understand the solar system!
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
Click here for the official website of the project, which includes information about the construction of each planet. And, for 10 other cool, hidden attractions check out this article!
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
The planetary model was created by local high school and technical school students directed by The University to bring more attention to their area of Maine.
The 1 to 93,000,000 scale means the model exists over about 40 miles. It was constructed of sculpted and painted planets on top of tall poles in a scaled distance from each other.
oursolarsystem / Flickr
Cynthia R / TripAdvisor
From here the model travels across the willywags, highways and byways of Maine in exactly the right representative distances.
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
TravelForDummies / TripAdvisor
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