The monument was established by Presidential Proclamation on August 24, 2016, following the Elliotsville Foundation’s gift to the people of the United States. The monument is managed by the National Park Service. As part of the transfer to the Department of the Interior, certain deeds included time-limited reserved rights that allowed Elliotsville Foundation, as a private entity, to create the visitor contact station. In 2018, the foundation gave notice of its intent to exercise that right on what is now known as Lookout Mountain. It subsequently opened official consultation with the National Park Service.

Dubbed Tekαkαpimək, which is a Penobscot word for “as far as one can see,” the contact station overlooks Katahdin and the East Branch of the Penobscot River while remaining hidden from paddlers below. An eastern lookout and gathering circle welcome the day’s first light, honoring the traditions of the “People of the Dawn” and offering views of the Wabanaki homelands.

Built on a remote location, sustainability was more than an aspiration, it was a necessity. The project features near-zero operational emissions, setting a new sustainability benchmark within the National Park Service. The building’s systems were designed for maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact. A 36.75-kW photovoltaic solar array powers all building operations with lithium-ion battery storage and a propane generator for emergency back-up.

Built entirely off-grid, the facility uses solar and thermal power, local materials and innovative passive systems to minimize its carbon footprint while advancing sustainable building practices.
Photo by James Florio, courtesy of Wright-Ryan Construction

Passive heating strategies include a Trombe wall system, radiant flooring and thermal mass. Cooling is achieved entirely through natural cross ventilation, night flushing, shading and ceiling fans—eliminating the need for mechanical air-conditioning. The building is designed to operate as a “thermal battery,” according to the team, capitalizing on its mass and envelope performance to modulate indoor temperatures. No water is drawn from the site.

The facility’s sustainable design is also rooted in Wabanaki ecological knowledge and conservation ethics. Tekakapimək features extensive use of timber inside and out, with raw, locally harvested cedar cladding and wood and mass timber used throughout. These biogenic materials make the building a natural carbon sink. If laid end-to-end, the interior beadboard finishes would span 23 miles. The cross-laminated timber is FSC-certified and sustainably sourced.

A signature innovation of the project was the development of 165 custom-built, structural-grade Douglas fir glulam columns. A one-of-a-kind process was created to ensure the wood retained a natural look and feel, with the columns laminated over a nine-month period in a former potato barn in Patten, Maine. During that time period, column sections were subjected to AITC shear and cyclic delamination tests to assure bond strength and durability.

Located on a remote ridge in unorganized northern Penobscot County, the site lacked road access and featured steep, uneven terrain. The team built nearly four miles of new access roads, which were designed to minimize ecological impact while enabling safe, year-round access.

Constructing the building on a steep slope required specialized anchoring and foundation systems, including rock anchors embedded deep into a cliffside ledge. Jeff Heseltine, Wright-Ryan’s vice president of field operations, says the process was like “building a ship on the side of a mountain.”

The remote location limited access to labor and skilled trades. Wright-Ryan recruited and trained local carpenters and coordinated travel and housing for specialized crews. Just-in-time deliveries, local laydown areas and precise logistics kept the project on track despite material procurement challenges, severe weather and pandemic-era supply chain delays.

The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station demanded a highly customized and proactive approach to safety due to its remote, mountainous location, limited site access and challenging terrain. Wright-Ryan Construction developed a job-specific safety plan that accounted for steep slopes, minimal staging areas and limited emergency response access.

To address the lack of immediate emergency services, Wright-Ryan implemented a unique call-and-response system with local EMS, ensuring that emergency protocols were clear, rehearsed and integrated into the safety plan. Fall protection and access safety were paramount, especially given the building’s location on a steep slope. A tight 5- to 8-ft work zone was established around the building footprint with carefully placed footings and foundation walls designed to support scaffolding and to protect workers during vertical construction.

A solar-powered remote camera system with off-site monitoring enhanced security and safety oversight, while the remote monitoring of electrical and mechanical systems helped mitigate potential hazards proactively. During the project’s 76,000 work hours, the team saw zero recordable incidents and no lost-time accidents.

The completed project aims to serve as a benchmark of cultural collaboration, craftsmanship and construction in one of America’s most remote and sacred landscapes. As visitors move through the building, they are oriented to the Penobscot Watershed via laser-etched concrete floor tiles, which depict portage routes from the river’s headwaters to Penobscot Bay. As a result, the floor serves as a map underfoot.

A woven copper ceiling above the reception desk, crafted by Wabanaki basket weavers, signals cultural resilience through traditional techniques in unexpected ways. The building and site integrate Wabanaki language, symbolism and commissioned artwork to create an immersive experience.

“It was almost like building a piece of artwork when you consider the vision,” says Chris Simmons, project executive at Wright-Ryan. “We were trying to honor the tribes, the local economy and the local environment. We kept that in mind the whole time.”

Jennifer Neptune, an exhibit writer and Wabanaki Advisory Board member from the Penobscot Nation hopes that Wabanaki tribal members are able to see themselves reflected in the exhibits and be proud of who they are and the culture that their ancestors saved for them. “I hope that all visitors come away with a deeper understanding, respect and relationship to these woods and waters and to the places they call home.”

The project was made possible almost entirely through private philanthropic support, led by Elliotsville Foundation, the Roxanne Quimby Foundation, Burt’s Bees, the National Park Foundation, L.L. Bean, NorthLight Foundation and an anonymous donor, as well as other generous contributors to Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters’ “A Monumental Welcome” campaign.

The team estimates that the Tekαkαpimək project generated an estimated $28-million in local economic impact – 80% of total project costs – benefiting regional contractors, artisans, Tribal members and Maine-based businesses. A 2021 study reported $2.8 million in annual visitor spending, with numbers anticipated to grow over time following the opening of Tekαkαpimək and additional investments to enhance visitor experience. The project also models equitable development – centering Indigenous knowledge, protecting Wabanaki cultural property and demonstrating how collaboration can elevate voices to shape a more inclusive future.