Museums Maine
Culture

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Belfast Historical Society & Museum
Belfast, Maine

Culture, Historical Society

The Belfast Museum is housed in an 1835 brick Federal style house in the heart of downtown Belfast, Maine. Featured exhibits include: maritime history, early Belfast history, maps, notable men and women, and photographs and artifacts pertaining to our distinctive history.

In the newly renovated barn next to the Museum, we house the old two-man city jail, an antique horse-drawn hearse and signs from old Belfast businesses.

Did you know that the Yankee Screwdriver, still found in toolboxes today, was invented in Belfast? Or, that the baseball expression "at bat, on deck and in the hole (or hold)", used to describe the batters line-up, was first coined by a Belfast scorekeeper in 1872? The Museum has the scorebook used in that game!

Brownfield Historical Society
Brownfield, Maine

Culture, History, Historical Society

This special exhibit is made possible by your membership and generous donations, with additional support from Edge of Maine Art and Framing , Stone Mountain Arts Center and the Keith Henney History Fund. The exhibit is printed on large panels designed and printed at the Edge of Maine Gallery in Brownfield.

Castine Historical Society
Castine, Maine

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Park

The Castine Historical Society, located in the Abbott School and Samuel P. Grindle House on the town common, is a 501(c)3 organization that serves as a window into Castine’s extraordinary past. Our permanent and summer exhibitions, lectures, house and garden tours and historic reenactments would not occur without the energy and dedication of our many volunteers and members.

Gray Historical Society
Gray, Maine

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society

For many years the collection was housed on the top floor of Stimson Memorial Hall on Shaker Road, Gray. In 1978 the move was made to the second floor of Pennell Institute, where it remained until 2009. The collection was then moved to the current location in the old fire barn on Main Street.

International Cryptozoology Museum
Portland, Maine

Anthropology, Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Natural History, Nature Centers, Science

The museum is mentioned on the local tourist map, on the Duck Tours and sometimes during the scenic trolley and cruise-related rides. It is easy to find. We are located on the Portland Metro Bus Route 1, near Avon Street, on Congress Street. The Amtrak train from Boston arrives less than a mile from the museum, as do the major bus lines. It is a short cab ride from the train or bus stations. We are right off I-95, then off I-295, for those driving. Congress Street is a major throughfare in downtown Portland, and our Avon Street is right off Congress Street. We are located next to Joe’s Smoke Shop’s parking lot, down Congress Street from the Children’s Museum and the Portland Museum of Art.

L. C. Bates Museum
Hinckley, Maine

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Natural History

Welcome to the L.C. Bates Museum of Natural History and Culture where students and adults can explore natural history and Maine history through self-guided visits and programs designed to meet Maine’s Learning Results. Museum exhibits include Maine natural history, Americana, art, archaeology, minerals and ethnology. The museum and its exhibits and outdoor arboretum provide a window into our history, diverse animal and plant life, and Maine environment. The building is also on the national register of historic places.

Maine Historical Society and Museum
Portland, Maine

Archaeology, Art, Botanical Garden, Children's, Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Natural History

Maine Historical Society employs a professional staff of 35. Our one–acre campus, which is open year round, is situated in downtown Portland, across from Monument Square. The Maine Historical Society strives to serve the entire state through its education and outreach programs and through the digital museum, the Maine Memory Network.

Naples Historical Society
Naples, Maine

Culture, General, History, Historical Society

The Naples Historical Society Museum and Information Center re-opened in June of 2012. The new building was completed in 2012. This building combined the Naples Information Center, The Historical Society Offices, and the Museum.

Old Town House Museum
Gouldsboro, Maine

Archaeology, Culture, General, Historic House, Historical Society, Military

Our Old Town House Museum is in the Old Town House on Rt 1. The building was given to us by the citizens of the Town of Gouldsboro. It was Gouldsboro's second Town House, built in 1884 after its predecessor burned. It was used for Town Meetings and elections from then until 1983.

Pierre Monteux School
Hancock, Maine

Culture, History, Library, Specialized

French-born conductor Pierre Monteux (1875-1964) premiered many masterworks of the last century, including Maurice Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, Claude Debussy's Jeux, and Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and Petrushka. Monteux enjoyed a long life, spanning a remarkable period in history. Originally trained as a violist, he performed for both Edvard Grieg and Johannes Brahms as a member of the Quatuor Geloso. Over the course of his conducting career, he held directorships of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, the Metropolitan Opera, the Boston Symphony, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris (which he formed), the London Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony, among others.

Brick Store Museum
Kennebunk, Maine

Art, Culture, History, Historic House, Library

Housed in five 19th Century buildings, the Brick Store Museum was founded in 1936 to celebrate local history, art and culture in the Kennebunks and its surrounding communities in Southern Maine. It is open year-round with six galleries and rotating exhibitions.

Caribou Historical Center & Museum
Caribou, Maine

Culture, History, Historical Society, Military, Park

Four building housing artifacts of Caribou Maine plus a walking trail through a lightly forested area.

Gouldsboro Historical Society
Gouldsboro, Maine

Archaeology, Art, Cemetery, Culture, General, Historical Society, Military

The Town of Gouldsboro Historical Society is devoted to researching, collecting, and preserving the Town's historical material, and educating citizens about the history of our Town and region. The Society serves the community by operating the Old Town House Museum and the Blance Archive, by cooperating with schools, libraries, and local organizations, and by offering numerous events to inform and entertain the public.

Hampden Historical Society at the Kinsley Home
Hampden, Maine

Cemetery, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The John Hampden Society was formed in 1992 to honour the 17th centuryEnglish parliamentarian after whom the town of Hampden was named in 1794. In August 1994 eight members of the Society were guests at the Bicentennial Celebrations, and strong links have been forged between Hampden Historical Society and the John Hampden Society.

Jonathan Fisher Memorial Inc
Blue Hill, Maine

Culture, Historic House, Specialized

Parson Jonathan Fisher was the Congregational minister from 1794 to 1837 in the small village of Blue Hill, Maine. Although his primary duties as a country parson engaged much of his time, Fisher was also a farmer, scientist, mathematician, surveyer, and writer of prose and poetry. He bound his own books, made buttons and hats, designed and built furniture, painted sleighs, was a reporter for the local newspaper, helped found Bangor Theological Seminary, dug wells, built his own home and raised a large family.

Truly a renaissance man in the breadth of his accomplishments Fisher invites comparison with a Franklin or Jefferson.

Machiasport Historical Society, Gates House Museum
Machiasport, Maine

Archaeology, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library

Gates House ca. 1810; fully furnished home plus marine room with research material artifacts and ship's models, genealogy library, local history.

Maine Military Museum and Learning Center
South Portland, Maine

Culture, History, Military, Specialized

Through authentic artifacts, displayed in a variety of formats throughout the museum, viewers can bear witness to the experiences and sacrifices of past members of our Armed Forces.

Naples Museum
Naples, Maine

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The Naples Museum is a must-see attraction during your visit to Naples. Donations are greatly appreciated and go towards the continued operations of our museum and information center.

Orono Historical Society
Orono, Maine

Culture, History, Historical Society

Portland Museum of Art
Portland, Maine

Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Library

The Museum's collection of more than 15,000 objects includes decorative and fine arts dating from the 18th century to the present. The heart of the Museum's collection is the State of Maine Collection, which features works by artists such as Winslow Homer, Marsden Hartley, John Marin, Louise Nevelson, and Andrew Wyeth. The Museum has the largest European collection in Maine.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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