Hype for the Future 62SUN: Where is America’s First Sunrise?

Disclaimer

The following content will specifically refer to the Contiguous United States and will respect the International Date Line. While Guam is often cited as the place where “America’s Day Begins,” the island territory in the Pacific Ocean is actually west of the International Date Line into the new day and very distantly removed from the mainland of the United States of America.

Contiguous United States

At least three (3) locations have been identified as seeing the first CONUS sunrise of the new day, including Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park; Mars Hill in Aroostook County, Maine; and Siasconset, Nantucket, Massachusetts. While the curvature of Earth plays a large role in defining the sunrise times, hills, mountains, valleys, and other features can also obscure the sun. Therefore, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is typically the first sunrise between early in October and early in March, while around the equinoxes, the West Quoddy Head area may be considered. For the general spring and summer seasons, the earliest sunrise is typically associated with the Mars Hill area, though closer to the equinoxes, the appearance of the Sun may be blocked by hills in New Brunswick, Canada 🇨🇦. Also, in any case, the State of Maine remains in the Eastern Time Zone, while the entirety of the Province of New Brunswick belongs firmly within the Atlantic Time Zone.

Hype for the Future 62V: Town of Mars Hill, Maine

Introduction

The Town of Mars Hill is a smaller town between the larger communities of Houlton (south) and Presque Isle (north) along United States Route 1. Just west of the easterly line of the State of Maine with the Canadian Province of New Brunswick, the town is perhaps most notable for representing the first sunrise of the contiguous United States of America during the summer months. Mars Hill is also home to the Central Aroostook Historical Society, logically named relatively to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton just to the north of Houlton.