Tekαkαpimək “as far as one can see”

WRITTEN BY AISLINN SARNACKI

Set to open this year, the new visitor contact station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a destination not to miss.

The stunning, modern, off-the-grid building features exhibits that introduce visitors to the landscape through the lens of the area’s indigenous Wabanaki people, melding history and nature with art and culture.

“I think the contact station really fills a void in the visitor experience,” said Brain Hinrichs, executive director of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. “The monument, rightly so, has a sort of rugged, backcountry reputation, and this is a much more accessible experience.” 

The contact station’s name, Tekαkαpimək — pronounced “de gah-gah-bee-mook” — is from the language of the area’s Penobscot people. Translated to English, it means “as far as one can see.”

Located on the slope of Lookout Mountain at the southeast corner of the monument, this visitor hub features two lookouts. At one, you can look west, across the monument to Katahdin, Maine’s tallest mountain, and up the East Branch of the Penobscot River. 

At the other lookout, the view is to the east — a place to greet the rising sun. There visitors can sit on the curved benches of a granite gathering circle, at the center of which is a symbol that represents four tribes of the Wabanaki Nations: the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Nation.

“Only 30 minutes off the highway, you can take a short walk, get incredible views and also learn some remarkable history,” said Hinrichs. “You can also experience a building and design process that is really unlike anything else in the National Park Service.”

Thoughtful planning and attention to detail has yielded a unique experience for visitors. For example, throughout the 23-acre property, granite blocks are laid out to mimic the water and banks of the East Branch, which flows through the landscape below.

Site signs are detailed with what looks like the lashing on a birch bark canoe, an important mode of transportation for the Wabanaki. No plants were brought to the site. Instead, the design fosters the growth of native seeds. And in keeping with KWW being an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, limited outdoor lighting is used.

The building itself was designed by Saunders Architecture, which worked with Wabanaki advisors to steer clear of colonial styles and create a structure in harmony with the landscape. With expansive windows and curving walls, the building is filled with natural light and places for people to sit and enjoy the views — or reflect on what they’ve learned.

In addition to serving as an introduction to the monument, the building is a celebration of Wabanaki culture, both past and present.

“Every panel, every exhibit is so rich with storytelling and science and history and mythology,” Hinrichs said. “It’s really just a combination of so many elements.”

Before or after touring the contact station building and its many exhibits, you may want to walk the property’s easy, wheelchair-accessible nature trails. Along the way, you’ll find interpretive signs that offer information about the nature surrounding you.

“You could fill out half a day there,” Hinrichs said. “Bring a picnic.”

An abundance of information about Tekαkαpimək is available on the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters website, friendsofkww.org/tekakapimek.

An official opening date has yet to be announced by the National Park Service. However, monument openings, closures, and other news can be found at nps.gov/kaww.   

An Important Note About Visiting KWW

Always check nps.gov/kaww before starting any adventure to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The site provides the latest alerts and information, including which sections of the Monument are open or closed. One major note for the summer of 2025: The Loop Road’s Katahdin Overlook will be closed for renovations, though spectacular views can be found at Tekαkαpimək and from many of the summits in the park.