Ever Wonder Why People Paint This Giant Rock In Lincoln, Maine? Here’s The Story!

For decades the people of Penobscot County have been painting this huge rock in Lincoln, that sits on Route 6, to honor fallen friends and celebrate milestones.

It seems no one can quite remember when the paintings officially started, but some speculate they began sometime in the 1970s.

Darlene Flood grew up in the neighboring town of Lee and would pass the rock every time her family would travel to Lincoln.

"My earliest memories are of the rock in the early 1970s. And it all began when a local boy and his friends painted his name on the rock. Simply one word Jesse. It stayed for a very long time it was forbidden graffiti.1970s kids were rebels."

Painting activity around the rock picked up quite a bit in the 1980 and 1990s, with the rock becoming a bit of a 'rural' billboard of sorts, Flood said.

If a baby was born, you might see it announced on the rock.

If someone in the community passed, you might see a tribute on the rock.

Alton Pickering, Flood's father, used to take pictures of the different paintings people would put up on the rock.

Flood's father, Alton Pickering, would document the different layers of paint back then with his manual camera.

Perhaps one of the best known paintings was created to welcome troops home in 1991.

Lifelong Lincoln resident Ruth Birtz thinks the paintings could have actually started as far back as the 1960s.

"I don't know how far back it goes. I do know that I have lived in Lincoln my entire life...and I would say it's been as far back as 1960-something...It's certainly been in place for a number of years. "

Birtz has worked for the Town of Lincoln for over 30 years, says she couldn't even guess how many different paintings have been put up on that rock.

"That rock, I wouldn't even dare to say how many coats of paint are on it."

Birtz says historically, the rock has been painted to mark a major life event or to commemorate the lost life of a local loved one. At times, it's also been used in humorous ways, even enabling friendly rivalries between the sports teams of neighboring towns.

"One day you'll see is 'Go Lee Pandas!' and the next day you'll see 'Hey Lady Howlers' and then you'll get the 'Mattanawcook Academy Lynx'. It changes multiple times a year."

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The designs are usually put up under the cover of night. It's  a rarity to actually see someone painting it.

"It's always stealth. It's usually in the middle of the night. People go with flashlights and stuff. I think the only time I've seen it done actually during the day, was when it's to commemorate someone who has passed. Then they take a little bit more time with it."

Lincoln Native, Martha Currier has painted the rock a few times; once for a friend who was leaving for college and once for her mom.

"I love the rock! It is a local tradition and an honor to have ur name, accomplishments, birthdays, artwork, any celebration, etc.. painted on 'the rock'! So many local memories that bring the whole community together."

Kathy Lothrop Crise painted the rock once, in 2007, to honor her nephew Army Sgt. Joel A. House, who died during Operation Iraqi Freedom June 23, 2007.

"The morning after Army officials notified Joel’s parents, my sister, and brother-in-law, my dad gathered us all and said 'let’s go paint the rock'. I’ve had many people tell me over the years that this is how they found out about Joel’s death."

The rock has become so legendary, that a local woman named Jennifer Hannington started a Facebook Page in it's honor, shortly after a long-time friend of hers passed away, and at tribute to him was painted on the rock.

Gary Lyle Worster, known to his friends as 'Swampy' passed away unexpectedly in April of this 2022. He was well-loved in the area, and Hannington came up with the idea to start the page after hearing about all of the positive reactions people were having to Swampy's rock painting at his memorial service.

"Gary meant a lot to all that knew him and always left a lasting impression. His personality always put a smile on your face. Amy had some ideas of what she would like it to say so we bounced some ideas back and forth. His love for the slots and Vegas were among the discussion. It was definitely a joint effort between the two of us."

"So many people complimenting and thanking me at Gary's celebration of life. I mentioned to a few it would be interesting to start a page for people to share past paintings. I got such a positive response I decided to do it"

The Lincoln's Famous Painted Rock Facebook Page was started for people to share memories and pictures of the different paintings that have graces this local legend.

"I have had several times people have asked me if it would be ok to paint over a memorial after it has been there for some time. People are very respectful of them. Obviously it is not my rock so no need to ask permission for that but shows how much the community cares for others. "

"The last few weeks it has been painted over several times some only lasting a day."

Hannington says she's even been contacted recently to do a commissioned painting on the rock to celebrate an upcoming wedding.

In all of it's existence, unbelievably, the paintings on the rock have stayed away from politics and vulgarity. Ruth Birtz says since her first memories of the rock in the 1960s, she can only think of one time where someone dared paint something too controversial.

"I think it's amazing that it's never been political. I don't recall ever seeing anything political on it... There might have been one time, in my lifetime, when it had something inappropriate on it. But overnight it was gone. For the amount of years that that rock has been painted, that in itself is pretty remarkable as well."

It's almost as if its an unspoken rule that the rock is a place of honor and celebration, and not to be used for anything else.