Musee Culturel du Mont-Carmel
Penobscot Marine Museum
From their perch atop the twin domes of the Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel, two trumpeting archangels look out at the St. John River and neighboring Canada from across Route 1 in Grand Isle’s village of Lille-sur-St-Jean. These prominent statues cap a former Roman Catholic Church closed in the late 1970s that has been undergoing renovations for more than 40 years.
Built in the early 1900s, the former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is considered the best surviving wooden Catholic church from that era in the St. John River Valley. For generations, it served as the religious home for the Acadians of the valley. After it closed due to declining membership and finances, a local nonprofit was formed to save and restore the building.
Through hard work and dedication, a small band of supporters has slowly brought the former church back to life, transforming it into a museum and cultural center that celebrates the Acadian and Québécois people and culture of the region.
Still a work in progress today, the museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open seasonally for exhibits and performances.
Author: Stephanie Bouchard
