Maine Memory Network

Student Exhibit: The Story of the Heywood Tavern

The story of the Heywood Tavern in Skowhegan.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Taverns, People, and Scenes

"Tavern sign, Raymond, ca. 1850Maine Historical Society Tavern Sign Maine, mid 19th century Painted wood Collections of Maine Historical Society…"

Student Exhibit: Historic Buildings on Madison Ave in Skowhegan

Take a tour and see some of the beautiful old buildings that used to be on Madison Avenue, Skowhegan? A few still remain, but most have been torn down.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Influential & Interesting Documents

"Men and women with solid reputations were granted licenses to run taverns, but as populations grew this social control weakened."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Quenching the Thirst

"Worse a half-death in grey light." Read "The Tavern" from page 93  X Conduskeag Canoe Club Program 1903 Collections of Maine Historical…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Acknowledgements

"… Driving National Gallery of Art Bevinn O'Brien Old York Historical Society, York, Maine Old Sturbridge Village Peabody Essex Museum Pingree Family…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Reform and Repeal

"… Historical Society I'm Making Whoopie-e at Old Orchard Beach, 1938 Postcard Collections of Maine Historical Society, a gift from Charles E."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Society Copes

"Old Collingswood Rye Whiskey ca. 1920s Courtesy of Drew D. Masterman This whiskey is labeled "For Family and Medicinal Purposes," the only way…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Women Leaders and Temperance

"… men and women tended to see Temperance women as old maids, out of step with the roaring 20s—a very different image from the young heroines…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - A Call to Temperance

"… was a delicate thing you know, and only two years old...he catched her away from me and shook her furiously, dashed her down over a chair, and went…"

Student Exhibit: Save the Skowhegan Grange & Granges in General

A brief history of the Grange in Skowhegan, its importance to community history, and a plea to save it from destruction.

Selections from the Collections

Maine Historical Society staff come across unique and unforgettable items in our collections every day. While it's difficult to choose favorites from a dynamic collection, this exhibit features memorable highlights as selected by members of the MHS staff.

Art of the People: Folk Art in Maine

For many different reasons people saved and carefully preserved the objects in this exhibit. Eventually, along with the memories they hold, the objects were passed to the Maine Historical Society. Object and memory, serve as a powerful way to explore history and to connect to the lives of people in the past.

Civil War Soldiers Impact Pittsfield

Although not everyone in town supported the war effort, more than 200 Pittsfield men served in Civil War regiments. Several reminders of their service remain in the town.

A City Awakes: Arts and Artisans of Early 19th Century Portland

Portland's growth from 1786 to 1860 spawned a unique social and cultural environment and fostered artistic opportunity and creative expression in a broad range of the arts, which flowered with the increasing wealth and opportunity in the city.

The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ

A fire and two men whose lives were entwined for more than 50 years resulted in what is now considered to be "the Jewel of Portland" -- the Austin organ that was given to the city of Portland in 1912.

Lincoln County through the Eastern Eye

The Penobscot Marine Museum’s photography collections include nearly 50,000 glass plate negatives of images for "real photo" postcards produced by the Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast. This exhibit features postcards from Lincoln County.

Sagadahoc County through the Eastern Eye

The Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast, Maine. employed photographers who traveled by company vehicle through New England each summer, taking pictures of towns and cities, vacation spots and tourist attractions, working waterfronts and local industries, and other subjects postcard recipients might enjoy. The cards were printed by the millions in Belfast into the 1940s.

State of Mind: Becoming Maine

The history of the region now known as Maine did not begin at statehood in 1820. What was Maine before it was a state? How did Maine separate from Massachusetts? How has the Maine we experience today been shaped by thousands of years of history?