M = Museums
While they might not be the first thing that pops to mind when someone thinks of Maine, the state is rich in museums! Below I’ve listed over 60 historical sites. They cover a broad area of topics. In order to make this resource easier to navigate, the locations are divided into broad categories. While some places could fit into more than one cluster, I aimed for logic! Within each group, they are listed in alphabetical order according to town.
Every site title includes a link that was active at the time of publishing. It is always wise to contact the establishment before setting out on a trip. Of course, visits cannot take place during the shutdown from COVID-19, but this post will help you begin planning for future adventures.
In addition to these, don’t forget all the communities that have a Museum in the Streets. You learn more in my write-up on Visit 17 to Hallowell.
Lastly, this is by no means complete! If you have a suggestion for an addition to this list, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
ART
Bowdoin College Museum of Art , Bowdoin
Tides Institute & Museum of Art, Eastport
Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston
Monhegan Museum of Art & History, Monhegan Island
Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit
Portland Museum of Art, Portland
Farnsworth Art Museums, Rockland
Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville
TRANSPORTATION
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Alna
Cole Land Transportation Museum, Bangor
Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Stanley Museum, Kingfield
Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head
Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, Phillips
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum, Portland
Seal Cove Auto Museum, Tremont
HISTORY
Maine State Museum, Augusta
Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor [the only Smithsonian Affiliate in Maine]
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, Bethel
Wilson Museum Campus, Castine
Pownalborough Court House, Dresden
The Telephone Museum, Ellsworth
Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk
Ski Museum of Maine, Kingfield
Maine Art Glass Studio, Lisbon Falls [featured in Visit 25 on my blog]
The Norlands, Livermore
Shaker Museum, New Gloucester
Poland Spring Museum, Poland Spring
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland
Maine Historical Society, Portland
Saco Museum, Saco
Wendell Gilley Museum, Southwest Harbor
General Knox Museum, Thomaston
Wiscasset Old Jail, Wiscasset
Old York, York
MARITIME LIFE & HERITAGE
Mount Desert Oceanarium, Bar Harbor
Maine Maritime Museum, Bath
Maine’s First Ship, Bath
Moosehead Marine Museum, Greenville
Kittery Historical and Naval Museum, Kittery
Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport
PEOPLE & HOMES
Jonathan Fisher Homestead, Blue Hill
Rufus Porter Museum, Bridgton
Joshua Chamberlain Museum, Brunswick
Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Brunswick
Chapman-Hall House, Damariscotta
Woodlawn Museum, Ellsworth
Nordica Homestead Museum, Farmington
Pettengill Farm, Freeport
Gates House, Machiasport
Tate House, Portland
Victoria Mansion, Portland
Wadsworth–Longfellow House, Portland
Wilhelm Reich Museum, Rangeley
Hamilton House, South Berwick
LIGHTHOUSES
Museum at Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse Visitor Center, Lubec
Maine Lighthouse Museum, Rockland
LUMBER AND AGRICULTURE
Maine Forest and Logging Museum, Bradley
Scribners Sawmill, Harrison
Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum, Littleton
Patten Lumbermen’s Museum, Patten
This post is part of my A to Z Challenge Series with the overall theme, “This Maine Life.” I am covering a Maine-related topic with a different letter of the alphabet every day except Sundays throughout the month of April 2020.
