Maine Historical Society Museum
The MHS Museum features changing exhibitions and programs spanning more than five centuries of Maine life. Drawing from the extensive collections of the Maine Historical Society, original exhibits feature art, artifacts, and documents that vividly bring Maine history to life.
Current Exhibit
Re/Collected: Great Works and New Discoveries from the Brown Library
June 26, 2009 through May 30, 2010
Heralding MHS's commitment to the history and heritage of Maine and its people, this original exhibition celebrates the breadth and depth of the Brown Library collections at Maine Historical Society. Re/Collected reveals the range found in this unparalleled collection, the State's most comprehensive source for the study of Maine history. Unusual Maine riches abound, ranging from official boundary maps to intimate family correspondence. Special highlights include items relating to 17th-century Maine settlements, the Civil War, and Portland's Abyssinian Meeting House. Find out more about this current exhibit.
Explore Past Exhibits.
Collections
The Museum's diverse collection of over 15,000 artifacts includes paintings, prints, and other original works of art, clothing and textiles, decorative arts, Native American artifacts and archaeological material, toys, tools, glass and ceramics, political memorabilia, militaria, and industrial and domestic artifacts that illustrate life in Maine.
Search the collections database to see our museum objects, photographs, autograph letters, some architectural drawings, and newspapers. This is a work in progress; please contact MHS collections staff at collections@mainehistory.org for the most complete and accurate research.
Research
Research access to the museum collections is available by appointment.
Contact the Curator at (207) 774–1822 x224 for more information.
Donating Historic Items
If you are considering donating museum artifacts or library items to the Maine Historical Society, please read our donation guidelines and review the MHS Collections Policy.