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
Gifts from Gluskabe: Maine Indian Artforms from the Hudson Museum
February 14 through June 1, 2008
Presented by the Maine Historical Society in collaboration with the Hudson Museum, University of Maine, Orono
The native people of Maine have legends that tell how the Creator made Gluskabe who then made the people and taught them how to use the natural resources of their world, especially trees and plants. He showed them how to weave baskets, build birchbark containers and canoes, and carve. These traditions were central to the survival of the Native People of Maine; they continue as living traditions today.
This exhibit has been organized to showcase the rich and diverse collections of the Hudson Museum and to explore and celebrate the craft traditions of Maine's Micmac, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribes. 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.