Who was Samantha Smith and why is a South Portland on-ramp named for her?
South Portland road renamed for Samantha Smith, whose childhood letter to Soviet leader became a Cold War-era plea for peace
SOUTH PORTLAND — A stretch of road that carries commuters from Route 1 toward the Maine Turnpike now bears the name of Samantha Smith, the Manchester girl whose letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov turned her into an international voice for peace during the Cold War.
The Maine Turnpike Approach Road in South Portland was renamed in 2023 in Smith’s honor, with support from veterans and legislators. A sign at the Route 1 intersection identifies the road as Samantha Smith Way.
Sen. Anne Carney, who sponsored the bill to rename the road, said the location was chosen because of its visibility and the number of travelers who pass through it.
“Her legacy of advocacy, peace and mutual respect are as important as ever,” Carney said. “For the countless travelers who pass by every day, I hope her sign serves as a powerful reminder of our own agency to bridge divides through thoughtful dialogue and mutual curiosity.”
Smith was 10 years old in 1982 when she wrote to Andropov, who had recently become the leader of the Soviet Union. Her letter asked direct questions about war and nuclear weapons, reflecting fears shared by many children and families during the Cold War.
“Are you going to vote to have a war or not?” Smith wrote. “If you aren’t, please tell me how you are going to help to not have a war. This question you do not have to answer, but I would like to know why you want to conquer the world or at least our country.”
She added: “God made the world for us to live together in peace and not to fight.”
The letter drew international attention. Andropov replied, complimenting Smith for reaching out and agreeing with her concern about the terrible nature of nuclear weapons. He also invited Smith and her family to visit the Soviet Union. They went later that summer.
During and after the trip, Smith continued to talk about peace. She wrote a book about her experience with help from her father.
In 1985, Smith and her father were killed in a commuter plane crash. The death was mourned across Maine. The state later established the first Monday in June as a holiday to honor and remember her legacy.
Another tribute stands in Augusta: a bronze statue of a young girl releasing a dove from her hands, with a bear cub crouched beside her leg.
For Carney, the South Portland road name connects Smith’s history to a message still relevant for drivers and pedestrians today. The hope, she said, is that people who see the sign will be reminded that dialogue and curiosity can matter even amid disagreement.
The renaming keeps Smith’s name visible along one of Maine’s busiest travel corridors, joining the state holiday and the Augusta memorial as public reminders of a young Mainerner whose letter to a world leader became part of Cold War history.
