Maine Memory Network

Music in Maine - Country Music

"I got my first guitar at age 11. I have always enjoyed most genres of music, but country music appealed to me the most."

Lt. Charles Bridges: Getting Ahead in the Army

Sgt. Charles Bridges of Co. B of the 2nd Maine Infantry was close to the end of his two years' enlistment in early 1863 when he took advantage of an opportunity for advancement by seeking and getting a commission as an officer in the 3rd Regiment U.S. Volunteers.

Patriotic Imagery: 1861-1880

Imagery on letterhead soldiers used, on soldiers' memorials produced after the war, and on many other items captured the themes of the American Civil War: union, liberty, and freedom.

John Bapst High School

John Bapst High School was dedicated in September 1928 to meet the expanding needs of Roman Catholic education in the Bangor area. The co-educational school operated until 1980, when the diocese closed it due to decreasing enrollment. Since then, it has been a private school known as John Bapst Memorial High School.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Quenching the Thirst

"Bunker, Waterville, 1889 Collections of Maine Historical Society S.C. 3 X The Bugle Bowdoin College, 1881 Collections of Maine Historical…"

Music in Maine - Rock and Roll, Punk, and Elvis

"I remember thinking that I wanted to look like him one day. As I grew up, my love for Elvis grew. I read every book, watched every concert, every…"

Music in Maine - Community Music

"Things changed for me when I was working at a club where I met tenor saxophonist Mr. Eddie Shaw in 1978—he is the reason that I have been bringing…"

Music in Maine - Opera, Orchestras and Stages

"As a member of the Penobscot Nation, I am helping to place Indigenous people in a modern context and I believe that through creative frequencies, we…"

Port of Portland's Custom House and Collectors of Customs

The collector of Portland was the key to federal patronage in Maine, though other ports and towns had collectors. Through the 19th century, the revenue was the major source of Federal Government income. As in Colonial times, the person appointed to head the custom House in Casco Bay was almost always a leading community figure, or a well-connected political personage.

Music in Maine - Music and Television

"I don't believe my father truly knew what a big deal that was at the time. He had been here all his life and had wonderful lifelong friends of all…"

Music in Maine - MAKE

"Most powwows are open to the public. I like to describe a powwow as a gathering where you’re with good people, eating good food, with good music, and…"

Music in Maine - Radio Cowboys and Country Music

"Cody’s 1953 single I Found Out More Than You Ever Knew reached number ten on the Billboard country chart."

Northern Threads: Mourning Fashions

A themed exhibit vignette within "Northern Threads Part I," featuring 18th and 19th century mourning jewelry and fashions.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - A Call to Temperance

"… century Collections of Maine Historical Society S.C. 853 X Triumph of Humanity published in The Napoleon of Temperance: Sketches of the…"

Making Paper, Making Maine

Paper has shaped Maine's economy, molded individual and community identities, and impacted the environment throughout Maine. When Hugh Chisholm opened the Otis Falls Pulp Company in Jay in 1888, the mill was one of the most modern paper-making facilities in the country, and was connected to national and global markets. For the next century, Maine was an international leader in the manufacture of pulp and paper.

Designing Acadia

For one hundred years, Acadia National Park has captured the American imagination and stood as the most recognizable symbol of Maine’s important natural history and identity. This exhibit highlights Maine Memory content relating to Acadia and Mount Desert Island.

Student Exhibit: The Story of the Heywood Tavern

The story of the Heywood Tavern in Skowhegan.

Rumford's Notable Citizens in the Civil War

A number of Rumford area residents played important roles during the Civil War -- and in the community afterwards. Among these are William King Kimball, who commanded the 12th Maine for much of the war.

Auto Racing in Maine: 1911

The novelty of organized auto racing came to Maine in 1911 with a hill-climbing event in Poland and speed racing at Old Orchard Beach. Drivers and cars came from all over New England for these events.

Eternal Images: Photographing Childhood

From the earliest days of photography doting parents from across Maine sought to capture images of their young children. The studio photographs often reflect the families' images of themselves and their status or desired status.

A Day for Remembering

Most societies have had rituals or times set aside to honor ancestors, those who have died and have paved the way for the living. Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, is the day Americans have set aside for such remembrances.

The Public Face of Christmas

Christmas, a Christian holiday observed by many Mainers, has a very public, seasonal face that makes it visible to those of all beliefs.

Fashion for the People: Maine's Graphic Tees

From their humble beginnings as undergarments to today's fashion runways, t-shirts have evolved into universally worn wardrobe staples. Original graphic t-shirts, graphic t-shirt quilts, and photographs trace the 102-year history of the garment, demonstrating how, through the act of wearing graphic tees, people own a part of history relating to politics, social justice, economics, and commemorative events in Maine.

Father John Bapst: Catholicism's Defender and Promoter

Father John Bapst, a Jesuit, knew little of America or Maine when he arrived in Old Town in 1853 from Switzerland. He built churches and defended Roman Catholics against Know-Nothing activists, who tarred and feathered the priest in Ellsworth in 1854.