Maine Memory Network

Otisfield's One-Room Schoolhouses

Many of the one-room schoolhouses in Otisfield, constructed from 1839 through the early twentieth century, are featured here. The photos, most of which also show teachers and children, were taken between 1898 and 1998.

Home Ties: Sebago During the Civil War

Letters to and from Sebago soldiers who served in the Civil War show concern on both sides about farms and other issues at home as well as concern from the home front about soldiers' well-being.

Music in Maine - Music and Television

"Beginning as For Teenagers Only on WGAN-13, the show moved to WCSH-6 in 1963, called The Dave Astor Show."

Music in Maine - Radio Cowboys and Country Music

"… on the Radio' show in 1938, WGAN’s ‘Ken MacKenzie Show’ in 1939, and Hal Lone Pine’s show on WABI in Bangor—which in 1938 was the first ever…"

Sylvan Site: A Model Development

Frederick Wheeler Hinckley, a Portland lawyer and politician, had grand visions of a 200-home development when he began the Sylvan Site in South Portland in 1917. The stock market crash in 1929 put a halt to his plans, but by then he had built 37, no two of which were alike.

Colonial Cartography: The Plymouth Company Maps

The Plymouth Company (1749-1816) managed one of the very early land grants in Maine along the Kennebec River. The maps from the Plymouth Company's collection of records constitute some of the earliest cartographic works of colonial America.

Maine and the Civil War - Togus Veterans' Hospital view, 1885

"… Description This bird's-eye view shows the Togus home for veterans. Each building is drawn on the view and an index tells the names of…"

Home: The Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Portland - Census, Timeline

"… United States census, taken every 10 years, show the changing nature of the Longfellow household -- and the changing nature of the neighborhood and…"

Home: The Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Portland - The House, 1786-1960

"… The images in the accompanying slideshow show the evolution of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Congress Street, as Back Street came to be…"

Promoting Rockland Through a Stereopticon, 1875

Frank Crockett and photographer J.P. Armbrust took stereo views of Rockland's downtown, industry, and notable homes in the 1870s as a way to promote tourism to the town.

Powering Pejepscot Paper Co.

In 1893, F.C. Whitehouse of Topsham, who owned paper mills in Topsham and Lisbon Falls, began construction of a third mill on the eastern banks of the Androscoggin River five miles north of Topsham. First, he had to build a dam to harness the river's power.

The Waldo-Hancock Bridge

The Waldo-Hancock Bridge is in the process of being dismantled after over 70 years of service. The Maine State Archives has a number of records related to the history of this famous bridge that are presented in this exhibition.

Atherton Furniture

LeBaron Atherton's furniture empire consisted of ten stores, four of which were in Maine. The photos are reminiscent of a different era in retailing.

The Shape of Maine

The boundaries of Maine are the product of international conflict, economic competition, political fights, and contested development. The boundaries are expressions of human values; people determined the shape of Maine.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Influential & Interesting Documents

"… of Maine Historical Society This watercolor shows nearly every type of vessel involved in the Caribbean rum trade prior to Maine statehood."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Reform and Repeal

"… citizens on a parade review stand in Westbrook, show the serious side of Prohibition. X Who Profits from Beer? Christian Civic League of…"

Cosmopolitan stylings of Mildred and Madeleine Burrage

Born in Portland, sisters Mildred Giddings Burrage (1890-1983) and Madeleine Burrage (1891-1976) were renowned artists and world travelers. Mildred's experiences studying painting in Paris and Italy, and the sisters' trips to Mexico and Guatemala inspired their artwork and shared passions for cosmopolitan and stylish attire. Housed at Maine Historical Society, The Burrage Papers include selections of original advertising drawings called "line sheets" from Parisian fashion houses dating from 1928 to 1936. Images of Madeleine's gemstone jewelry and Mildred's artwork accompany intimate family photographs of the sisters.

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.

The World's Largest Oxen

Named for the two largest things in Maine at the turn of the 20th century, Mt. Katahdin and Granger of Stetson, were known as the Largest Oxen in the World. Unable to do farm work because of their size, they visited fairs and agricultural events around the Northeast.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Business as Usual

"… of Maine Historical Society This image shows James and Patrick McGlinchy's Casco Brewery on the slopes of Munjoy Hill, the last active, legal…"

Music in Maine - HEAR

"… the late 1920s to early 1950s news, variety shows, game shows, and popular music drew millions of listeners."

Canning: A Maine Industry

Maine's corn canning industry, as illuminated by the career of George S. Jewett, prospered between 1850 and 1950.

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.

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

"It's been a ten-year journey and one that I enjoy immensely. Mainers attending my shows often tell me their stories about how they had tickets to see…"