Upcoming Programs & Events
Program fees and registration details are listed in the program description. Programs for MHS members are free or discounted. Support MHS by becoming a member today. All programs take place at our facilities at 489 Congress Street in Portland, unless otherwise noted. Click here for Directions or Parking information.
Please review our Refund and Return Policies for tickets and event admissions.
If you have questions about any of the programs listed below, please contact us at (207) 774-1822.
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Ongoing Programs
Wadsworth-Longfellow House Tours - Daily, May - October. See details.
Exhibition Galleries (self-guided) - Changing schedule, year-round. See details.
Historical Walking Tours of Portland - June - Columbus Day. Tours offered Monday through Friday at 1:30pm, and on select special weekend dates. See details.
Library Tours - First Wednesday of the month at noon (with a few exceptions). See below for next scheduled tour.
August Programs
Thursday, August 16 – Thursday, October 11, 2018
Find Your Place in History: Discover Your Roots and Take a Peek Behind the Scenes at the Maine Historical Society
On Thursday afternoons, from June to October, spend a few hours going back in time!
With a small group of like-minded peers, in the beautiful Maine Historical Society’s Brown Research Library, prepare to explore history on all levels: from the history of your own family to artifacts that help tell the story of western civilization.
+ Dig back into your own family story and piece together the people from your past.
+ See some of the most amazing artifacts in the vast collections of the Maine Historical Society.
+ Put on the white gloves and explore our archives—off limits to our regular visitors.
+ Finally, celebrate your accomplishments in the Longfellow garden--smell the flowers and taste a few traditional Maine treats!
This is a guided introduction to genealogical research—not for experienced genealogists. To ensure you have the most fascinating experience, bring the names and birthdates of a few relatives to your session.
Ticket Price: $75 each. There is a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 people per tour. The deadline to register for each event is the Monday prior to the event.
All tickets are sold for specific tour dates and times.
Tours begin at the MHS Museum Store at 489 Congress Street.
Event Dates & Times:
(register for each event by clicking the links below)
+ August 16th from 4:00-5:30pm SOLD OUT
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for August 23rd from 4:00-5:30pm
+ August 30th from 4:00-5:30pm SOLD OUT
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for September 6th from 4:00-5:30pm
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for September 13th from 4:00-5:30pm
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for September 20th from 4:00-5:30pm
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for September 27th from 4:00-5:30pm
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for October 4th from 4:00-5:30pm
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for October 11th from 4:00-5:30pm
For more information or for assistance purchasing tickets, contact us at 207-774-1822.
Tuesday, August 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Beer in the Garden: Highlights from the Costume Collection
NEW TIMES!
Join us for beer and snacks, a rare opportunity to enjoy our historic garden in the evening, and a chance to see some very special artifacts from our collections!
Free for MHS Members; $5 general admission. Must be 21+. RSVP not required – drop in any time! Apply your program fee to MHS membership!
Beer in the Garden is sponsored by The Maine Brew Bus.
See a full list of all Beer in the Garden programs.
Wednesday, August 22, 10:30 am
The Children's Hour: Before We Eat
Join us for the reading Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson (author) and Mary Azarian (illustrator) followed by crafts and activities for the whole family. Learn all about farming and harvesting food in Maine.
Featuring special guest reader Mary Ellen Chad, of Green Spark Farm.
All are welcome, recommended for ages 4-9. All children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
The program will be held in Longfellow Garden (weather permitting) and is free to the public. Registration is appreciated. Light refreshments will be provided.
To register or request information on this or other programs in this series please contact Manager of Education and Interpretive Programs, Kathleen Neumann at 207-774-1822, ext. 214, email kneumann@mainehistory.org.
The Children's Hour Summer Schedule:
+August 8: Two Old Potatoes and Me , by John Coy and Carolyn Fisher. Guest reader: Sada Stavrum of Portland Food Co-op.
+August 22: Before We Eat: From Farm to Table, by Pat Brisson and Mary Azarian. Guest reader: Mary Ellen Chad of Green Spark Farm.
Friday, August 24
Foodie Fridays at the Wadsworth-Longfellow House
Join MHS on the fourth Friday of the month for Foodie Fridays to explore and experience the foodways of Maine’s past!
Take a delectable food-themed tour of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and help make and sample a historic dessert. Participants will also take home a copy of a vintage recipe from MHS collections. History never tasted so good!
Tour Dates & Times:
+ Click to Purchase Tickets for August 24th from 5:30-6:30pm
Tours will begin in the MHS Museum Store at 489 Congress Street. Limited paid parking is available in the MHS lot on Brown Street after 5pm.
Ticket Price: $20 for MHS members, $25 general admission. Tours are limited to 14 guests. For more information or for assistance purchasing tickets, contact us at 207-774-1822.
September Programs
Wednesday, September 5, 12:00 pm
Behind-the-Scenes Library Tour
Tour Guide: Nicholas Noyes, Curator of Library Collections
This 45-minute tour of the Brown Library, fully renovated in 2009, takes participants throughout the library's reading rooms and behind-the-scenes into the archive, normally closed to the public. Nicholas Noyes covers the history of the building, architectural details, the basics of doing research in the library, and even shares a few treasures from the collection.
Free and open to the public. Limited to 10; sign up in advance by sending an email to nnoyes@mainehistory.org or calling 774-1822 x207.
Saturday, September 8, 10:30 am
Lobster Adventure at Maine Historical Society
Join us for the reading of Dahlov Ipcar’s Lobsterman and ocean-inspired crafts and activities for the whole family. Learn all about lobstering in Maine and meet some creatures from the sea!
Featuring special guest reader and speaker Rachel Fecteau, of Lucky Catch Cruises.
All are welcome, recommended for ages 4-9. All children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
The program will be held in Longfellow Garden (weather permitting) and is free to the public. Registration is appreciated. Light refreshments will be provided.
To register or request information on this or other programs in this series please contact Manager of Education and Interpretive Programs, Kathleen Neumann at 207-774-1822, ext. 214, email kneumann@mainehistory.org.
Tuesday, September 18, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Beer in the Garden: School Days
NEW TIMES!
Join us for beer and snacks, a rare opportunity to enjoy our historic garden in the evening, and a chance to see some very special artifacts from our collections!
Free for MHS Members; $5 general admission. Must be 21+. RSVP not required – drop in any time! Apply your program fee to MHS membership!
Beer in the Garden is sponsored by The Maine Brew Bus.
See a full list of all Beer in the Garden programs.
October Programs
Wednesday, October 3, 12:00 pm
Behind-the-Scenes Library Tour
Tour Guide: Nicholas Noyes, Curator of Library Collections
This 45-minute tour of the Brown Library, fully renovated in 2009, takes participants throughout the library's reading rooms and behind-the-scenes into the archive, normally closed to the public. Nicholas Noyes covers the history of the building, architectural details, the basics of doing research in the library, and even shares a few treasures from the collection.
Free and open to the public. Limited to 10; sign up in advance by sending an email to nnoyes@mainehistory.org or calling 774-1822 x207.
Thursday, October 11, 6:00 pm
Maine Seafood: The Strength of Our Past and the Promise of Our Future
Barton Seaver. Photo credit: Michael Piazza.
Seafood has been a strong natural resource and a focus of Maine’s economy from the very beginning. Maine’s fisheries continue to hold a strong market internationally, but what is its future? How has Maine seafood changed over time? What are its threats and what are the possibilities for an even stronger future? Join prominent Maine chef and author Barton Seaver in a discussion about the state of Maine’s seafood with representatives from the Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Samples of Maine seafood will be provided after the program.
Ticket Price: $10 for MHS members, $15 general admission. For more information or for assistance purchasing tickets, contact us at 207-774-1822.
Tuesday, October 16, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Beer in the Garden: Mourning Rituals
NEW TIMES!
Join us for beer and snacks, a rare opportunity to enjoy our historic garden in the evening, and a chance to see some very special artifacts from our collections!
Free for MHS Members; $5 general admission. Must be 21+. RSVP not required – drop in any time! Apply your program fee to MHS membership!
Beer in the Garden is sponsored by The Maine Brew Bus.
See a full list of all Beer in the Garden programs.
This is the final Beer in the Garden of the season. We'll see you again in May!
Wednesday, October 24 – Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Longfellow's Haunted House 2018
Don't miss our annual evening tour of the Longfellow House in the week leading up to Halloween! Based on Longfellow's poem, "Haunted Houses"
("All houses wherein men have lived and died / Are haunted houses")
the tour is written and led by seasoned guide James Horrigan. It evokes the various family members that died in the Wadsworth-Longfellow House over its long history. Two tour types will be offered this year; one for families and one for adults.
Family Tour
This 30-minute tour is followed by cookies and cider in the ell of the house. Offered on October 26 and 27 only, at 5pm. Each tour is limited to 15 people. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Advance registration is required. Cost: $10 MHS Members; $15 general admission.
+ October 26, 5:00pm
+ October 27, 5:00pm
Adult Tour
This 60-minute tour is followed by a variety of beverages – including beer and cider – and snacks in the ell of the house. There are 5 tour evenings: October 24-27, and 30 from 6-7:30pm.
Advance reservations are required. Each tour is limited to 12 and appropriate for ages 21+. Cost: $18 MHS Members; $25 general admission.
+ October 24, 6:00pm
+ October 25, 6:00pm
+ October 26, 6:00pm
+ October 27, 6:00pm
+ October 30, 6:00pm
November Programs
Wednesday, November 7, 12:00 pm
Behind-the-Scenes Library Tour
Tour Guide: Nicholas Noyes, Curator of Library Collections
This 45-minute tour of the Brown Library, fully renovated in 2009, takes participants throughout the library's reading rooms and behind-the-scenes into the archive, normally closed to the public. Nicholas Noyes covers the history of the building, architectural details, the basics of doing research in the library, and even shares a few treasures from the collection.
Free and open to the public. Limited to 10; sign up in advance by sending an email to nnoyes@mainehistory.org or calling 774-1822 x207.
Monday, November 26, 7:00 pm
Gerald Dickens Performs "A Christmas Carol
Gerald Dickens.
For the second year, Maine Historical Society is pleased to offer a special performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, performed by Dickens’ great-great-grandson, Gerald Dickens.
This one-man show is inspired by the 1860s performances by Charles Dickens. Offered in the historic First Parish Church, this is a rare opportunity to see this historic work of literature this holiday season. Gerald Dickens has worked as an actor, director, and producer for many years and has appeared at several arts and literary festivals in the United Kingdom.
For tickets, click below or call 207-774-1822. For more information on the event visit www.byerschoice.com.
*Note: photography or audio/video recording during the performance is prohibited.
Performance venue: First Parish Church, 425 Congress St, Portland
Ticket price: $25 MHS members / $35 general admission / $15 for age 18 and under.
December Programs
Wednesday, December 5, 12:00 pm
Behind-the-Scenes Library Tour
Tour Guide: Nicholas Noyes, Curator of Library Collections
This 45-minute tour of the Brown Library, fully renovated in 2009, takes participants throughout the library's reading rooms and behind-the-scenes into the archive, normally closed to the public. Nicholas Noyes covers the history of the building, architectural details, the basics of doing research in the library, and even shares a few treasures from the collection.
Free and open to the public. Limited to 10; sign up in advance by sending an email to nnoyes@mainehistory.org or calling 774-1822 x207.
Wednesday, December 12, 7:00 pm
Christmas Bells: A Holiday Handbell Concert
In partnership with The Pine Tree Academy Bell Ringers
Join MHS and The Pine Tree Academy Bell Ringers for a program of seasonal music, including arrangements set to the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, Christmas Bells (I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day).
The Pine Tree Academy Bell Ringers play five octaves (61 bells) of English handbells and five octaves of choir chimes. The group consists of young musicians in grades 9 through 12. The Bell Ringers have performed throughout New England, Europe, and South America.
Performance venue: First Parish Church, 425 Congress Street, Portland, ME
For more information on The Pine Tree Academy Bell Ringers visit www.pinetreeacademy.org.
Ticket Price: $10 for MHS, $15 general admission
Program Podcasts
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Group Trips
Vietnam & Cambodia: The Charms of the Mekong
October 13-28, 2018 - From $4,979 per person
Join MHS as we cruise along the Mekong River, visiting rural villages, historic pagodas, local markets and a Buddhist monastery, where we'll be treated to a special blessing by monks. Our inner adventurer spirit will be indulged in Seam Reap, exploring grand temples of Angkor Archeological Park—and we'll be treated to an overnight sojourn on board an elegantly appointed ship in Ha Long Bay. Get Trip Details.
Exhibitions
Maine Eats: The Food Revolution Starts Here
March 2, 2018 through February 9, 2019
MHS Gallery
Food is a universal building block of life—if we don't eat, we will die. But food has a power that goes far beyond biology. The food we eat shapes our lives and our memories. Sourcing food, preparing food, and eating food are all part of the heartbeat of Maine's culture and economy. Maine Eats: The Food Revolution Starts Here explores Maine's relationship with food and innovative food solutions to challenges through diverse stories from around the state. Read More
Eye in the Sky
April 11 through September 30, 2018
Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. Lecture Hall
Featuring aerial photographs from MHS' Portland Press Herald glass negative collection, the exhibition provides a glimpse into the 1920s and 30s, through one of Maine's most significant media influences. Read More
Maine Memory Network - Over 300 Online Exhibitions
Offers online access to numerous Web–based exhibits and a constantly growing collection of nearly 45,000 historical documents, images, and objects contributed by as many as 270 organizations around Maine. New exhibits added regularly. Go to www.mainememory.net.
Regional Genealogy Programs, Events, and Conferences
Find out about regional conferences and other family history instruction and workshops.
