THOMASTON – It may not be what the tourists come to Maine to see, but the Dragon Products’ huge cement plant has achieved landmark status.

The Maine section of the American Society of Civil Engineers has designated the plant and limestone quarry off U.S. Route 1 as a state significant historic civil engineering landmark.

Officials of the society pointed to the impact that New England’s only cement plant has had on the local economy and on building projects in the region and nationwide.

Structures such as the Wyman Dam in Bingham and what is now the International Paper mill in Bucksport were built with Dragon cement around the time the quarry opened in 1928.

More recently, Dragon Cement products have been used to build the Casco Bay Bridge in Portland, a shipbuilding facility at Bath Iron Works and Maine Yankee’s dry cask storage facility.

“Cement is the key ingredient in concrete, and having a local plant and quarry has moderated the cost of these important projects in Maine by making the state less dependent on cement supplies beyond our borders,” said Peter Merfeld, president of the Maine society.

As a result of the designation, the society plans to feature Dragon, along with other landmarks, in a new promotional brochure that will be distributed at visitor information centers in Maine.

“If you are an engineering geek like me, then you can go around the state and visit all of the sites,” said Stuart Guinther, Dragon’s vice president of cement operations and plant manager.

Maine’s chief historian was surprised to learn of the designation but allowed that it was a good thing to have the plant included on the society’s list.

“It’s kind of ironic because the plant is somewhat of an eyesore,” said Earle Shettleworth, director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. “But these types of places are often overlooked for the more obvious historic sites in Maine. Yet our industrial history is very important.”

Dragon, which has its corporate offices in Portland, produces 750,000 tons of cement a year. It also operates 10 concrete plants throughout Maine.

Guinther said the company plans to take note of its landmark status by installing a plaque on a boulder at the main gate.