Museums in Maine | Mainepedia

Maine’s museums punch above their weight. A state of 1.3 million people hosts collections that draw visitors from around the world—Winslow Homer’s seascapes at the Portland Museum of Art, the Wyeth family legacy at the Farnsworth, maritime heritage in Bath’s shipbuilding center. Beyond the headliners, smaller museums tell stories of fishing, farming, logging, and the communities that built Maine.

This guide covers the essential museums and the hidden gems worth discovering.

Art Museums

Major Collections

Portland Museum of Art (Portland)

Maine’s flagship art museum and one of New England’s finest. The collection spans European masters to contemporary works, with special strength in American art—particularly artists who worked in Maine.

Highlights:

Winslow Homer’s seascapes (Homer built his studio at nearby Prouts Neck)
Andrew Wyeth paintings
Colonial and Federal-era portraits
European works from the McLellan Collection
I.M. Pei-designed building (itself worth visiting)

Practical info:

Open Tuesday-Sunday
Free Friday 4-8 PM
Allow 2-3 hours
Café on site

Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland)

Devoted to Maine’s role in American art, the Farnsworth centers on artists who found inspiration in Maine’s landscape and light. The Wyeth Center, across the street, houses one of the most significant collections of work by N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth.

Highlights:

Three generations of Wyeth family work
The Olson House (site of “Christina’s World”)—located in Cushing, separate admission
Maine modernists
Rotating exhibitions

Practical info:

Open daily in summer; reduced winter hours
Olson House requires separate visit (Cushing, 25 minutes)
Allow 2-4 hours for museum, half day with Olson House
Downtown Rockland location

Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville)

An exceptional college museum with a collection that rivals many city institutions. The American art holdings are particularly strong, and admission is always free.

Highlights:

Alex Katz murals and paintings
American landscape tradition
Contemporary art pavilion
Free admission always

Practical info:

Open Tuesday-Sunday
Free
Allow 1-2 hours
Campus parking available

Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick)

Ancient to modern collections in a welcoming campus setting. Strong holdings in American art, European works, and ancient Mediterranean objects.

Highlights:

Winslow Homer watercolors
Gilbert Stuart portraits
Ancient Greek and Roman collection
Assyrian reliefs (yes, really)
Free admission

Practical info:

Open Tuesday-Sunday
Free
Allow 1-2 hours
Beautiful campus for walking

Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit)

Perched above the ocean, this museum pairs American modernism with spectacular views. The setting enhances everything.

Highlights:

20th-century American art
Coastal Maine views from galleries
Sculpture garden
Intimate scale

Practical info:

Open May-October
Modest admission
Allow 1-2 hours
Combine with Marginal Way walk

Smaller Art Venues

Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston) Contemporary focus with rotating exhibitions. Free.

University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor) Downtown location featuring modern and contemporary work. Free.

Center for Maine Contemporary Art (Rockland) New building showcasing current Maine artists.

Monhegan Museum (Monhegan Island) Art and history in the island’s old lighthouse keeper’s house.

Maritime Museums

Maine Maritime Museum (Bath)

America’s leading maritime museum occupies the historic Percy & Small shipyard, where the largest wooden sailing vessels ever built were constructed. The collection tells the story of Maine’s shipbuilding heritage and maritime life.

Highlights:

Historic shipyard (six remaining buildings)
Full-size sculpture of Wyoming (largest wooden schooner)
Lobstering exhibit
Lighthouses and lifesaving exhibits
Boat-building demonstrations

Practical info:

Open daily
Allow 3-4 hours
Cruises available seasonally
Large campus with outdoor areas

Penobscot Marine Museum (Searsport)

Maine’s oldest maritime museum occupies multiple historic buildings in a Route 1 village. The focus is on Maine’s seafaring communities—the captains, sailors, and families who lived maritime lives.

Highlights:

Historic photographs (extraordinary collection)
Ship portraits and navigational equipment
Captain’s homes furnished with period objects
Small craft collection

Practical info:

Open late May-mid October
Allow 2-3 hours
Multiple buildings to explore
Downtown Searsport location

Other Maritime Sites

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum (Portland) Not maritime but transportation history—vintage trains along Portland’s waterfront.

Sail, Power & Steam Museum (Rockland) Engine and propulsion technology.

Penobscot Narrows Observatory (Prospect) Not a museum, but a dramatic bridge tower with panoramic views. Adjacent Fort Knox is worth exploring.

History Museums

Maine State Museum (Augusta)

Comprehensive Maine history from geology through the 20th century. The “Made in Maine” industrial history exhibit is exceptional, and admission is free.

Highlights:

Natural history specimens
“Made in Maine” (logging, fishing, farming, manufacturing)
Maine at home exhibits
Native American history

Practical info:

Open Tuesday-Saturday
Free admission
Allow 2-3 hours
Adjacent to State House

Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor)

Wabanaki (Native American) history and culture, from ancient times to the present. The museum emphasizes connections between past and present, with significant Native involvement in interpretation.

Highlights:

Archaeological collections
Contemporary Native art
Cultural continuity exhibits
Indigenous perspectives

Practical info:

Bar Harbor and Acadia locations
Year-round (Bar Harbor); seasonal (Acadia)
Allow 1-2 hours

Wadsworth-Longfellow House (Portland)

Childhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, preserved by the Maine Historical Society. One of the most significant historic houses in Maine.

Highlights:

Original Longfellow family furnishings
18th-century architecture
Garden
Maine Historical Society museum attached

Practical info:

Guided tours
Seasonal operation
Downtown Portland location

Fort Knox State Historic Site (Prospect)

Largest fort in Maine, built 1844-1869 to defend the Penobscot River. Never saw combat but impresses with its massive granite construction.

Practical info:

Self-guided tours
Adjacent to Penobscot Narrows Observatory
Allow 1-2 hours
Atmospheric and kid-friendly

Science and Nature

Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor)

Hands-on children’s museum with exhibits on science, nature, and culture. The largest children’s museum north of Boston.

Highlights:

Nature trails and animal encounters
Science experiments
Cultural exploration
Music and art activities

Best for: Ages 1-10

Practical info:

Open daily in summer; reduced winter hours
Downtown Bangor
Allow 2-3 hours

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (Portland)

Interactive exhibits for younger children in downtown Portland. Features a working camera obscura that projects live Portland street scenes.

Highlights:

Camera Obscura
Farm exhibit
Theater performances
Age-appropriate interactivity

Best for: Ages 0-10

Practical info:

Downtown Portland
Free first Friday of each month (5-8 PM)
Allow 2-3 hours

Maine State Aquarium (West Boothbay Harbor)

Touch tanks and local marine life education. Small but engaging, especially for children.

Highlights:

Touch tanks
Local species
Lobster biology
Tide pool education

Practical info:

Seasonal operation (late May-late September)
Allow 1-2 hours
Good for all ages

Specialty Museums

Owls Head Transportation Museum (Owls Head)

Antique aircraft, automobiles, and engines—many in working condition. Regular “Open Cockpit” events let visitors see vintage vehicles operate.

Highlights:

Pre-1940 aircraft (several flyable)
Antique automobiles
Motorcycles and bicycles
Engine collection
Working demonstrations

Practical info:

Open daily
Special event weekends (vehicles in action)
Allow 2-3 hours
Great for all ages

Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum (Bowdoin College, Brunswick)

Exploration of the Arctic, featuring Robert Peary (claimed first to reach North Pole) and Donald MacMillan, both Bowdoin graduates. Inuit artifacts and expedition equipment.

Highlights:

Expedition gear and photographs
Inuit cultural objects
Polar exploration history
Free admission

Practical info:

On Bowdoin campus
Open Tuesday-Sunday
Allow 1 hour
Combine with college museum

Shaker Museum (Sabbathday Lake)

The last active Shaker community in the world maintains a museum of Shaker life and craftsmanship.

Highlights:

Shaker furniture and objects
Working community context
Craftsmanship tradition
Unique living-history element

Practical info:

Tours only; by appointment off-season
New Gloucester location
Allow 1-2 hours

Wilhelm Reich Museum (Rangeley)

Unusual museum dedicated to controversial scientist Wilhelm Reich, who lived and worked in Rangeley. His home and laboratory are preserved.

Practical info:

Seasonal operation
Tours only
Niche interest but fascinating setting

Planning Museum Visits

Museum Passes

Many Maine libraries loan museum passes that provide free or discounted admission. Check your local library before visiting.

Timing

Summer: Most museums open; some crowded
Fall: Excellent visiting conditions; some seasonal closures begin
Winter: Many museums have reduced hours; check ahead
Spring: Shoulder season; good for smaller crowds

Itineraries

Portland Art Day: Portland Museum of Art + Longfellow House + Maine Historical Society

Midcoast Culture: Farnsworth Museum + Owls Head Transportation + Penobscot Marine Museum

Family Day: Children’s Museum (Portland) + Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad

Maritime Heritage: Maine Maritime Museum (Bath) + Penobscot Marine Museum (Searsport)

From the internationally significant art collections in Portland and Rockland to the specialized treasures of smaller institutions, Maine’s museums reward curious visitors. The collections reflect place—maritime heritage, artistic inspiration, industrial history, Native cultures—telling stories that help explain how Maine became Maine. Allow time, follow your interests, and discover the cultural depth beneath the natural beauty.