Maine State Museum Reopens After Six Years Closed

It is hard to believe that it has been over six years since the Maine State Museum closed its doors.

Fortunately, the wait is almost over! The museum will reopen to the public on Saturday, October 24th!

When and Why Did The Museum Close?

Initially, the museum closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like nearly all non-essential public facing spaces, the museum closed its doors in order to "flatten the curve".

However, the museum remained closed.

Why?

Well, it was decided that the closure was the perfect time to start some much needed updates to the museum. In addition to a series of needed structural repairs being made to the building and an asbestos removal project, the museum exhibits went through a significant overhaul.

About the Maine State Museum Renovations

When the museum reopens the public will have a chance to experience the history of Maine through "Beyond the Postcard". Basically, the story of Maine life will be told through the stories of people who lived here. For example, Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby, an outdoors influencer 120 years before we had influencers. Also, Alvin O. Lombard, who invented a motorized log hauler.

Then, of course, there is Vector the humpback whale. We have heard so much about the museum's new acquisition: a whale skeleton. She is even more impressive in person than you think! Next to Vector is the skeleton of a juvenile whale.

The new children's area has a lot of interactive experiences and contains the last operating Maine switchboard, which operated in Bryant Pond until the early 1980s.

The museum's upper-level is dominated by a massive display of Maine quilts. Some of them date back to the early 1800s.

Only about half the museum will open on Saturday. Just the top floors. The lower levels, which include the 12,000 Years In Maine & Made in Maine exhibits, will open at a later date. Probably sometime in the next year.

According to Maine State Museum Director Bernard Fishman, the lengthy renovation project cost about $3 million and much of the money came from donations by organizations and companies. These include the Lunder Foundation, the Alfond Foundation, the Betterment Fund, Avangrid, Kennebec Savings Bank, Hammond Lumber, and Bangor Savings Bank.

The Maine State Museum Will Be Free Through 2026

Thanks to a grant from Avangrid, the museum will be free through December 31st. And, also thanks to Avangrid, the museum will be free one Saturday a month through 2027.

Get more details about the museum HERE