The Acadian Village was built by Notre Heritage Vivant, Our Living Heritage Society of Van Buren in 1976.   The land on which it was built was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ayotte, local farmers of Van Buren-Keegan.   

The society relied on money-raising projects and donations from private citizens, both in money and in labor, several small federal grants and the generosity of local governments and organizations for funds necessary to complete the project. People from Van Buren, Hamlin, Cyr Plantation and Grand Isle have been and continue to be involved in maintaining the Village.

The first building was moved onto the site in February of 1975 and the Village opened July 1, 1976. It was listed as one of the top 55 Independent Day National Events for the bicentennial year. It was also named the State of Maine’s Best Bicentennial Project and given a citation by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. 

The Acadian Village is registered in the National Register of Historic Places in Washington D.C. and has been recognized as a historic national landmark. It is one of the largest historical sites in Maine.

The first Acadians were people from France who settled in what is now Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1755 they were deported by the English to other colonies in North America. The Acadians who settled in the St. John Valley had first settled in St. Anne Des Pays Bas, Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada. When they were chased off their land once more, they made their way up the St. John River and came to settle after landing in Madawaska in 1785.