Maine State Museum to host grand reopening after renovations

The Maine State Museum is scheduled to host a grand reopening celebration on Saturday, October 24, marking the first phase of its return to public access following a multi-year closure. The closure, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed for significant structural repairs, asbestos removal, and a comprehensive overhaul of museum exhibits.

The initial reopening will feature the museum's main and fourth floors. New highlights include the “Beyond the Postcard: Stories of the Maine Experience” exhibit and a 4,130-square-foot whale gallery featuring the skeletons of two humpback whales, including a whale named Vector. The fourth floor will host the “Maine Quilts: 250 Years of Comfort & Community” exhibit and the returning “At Home in Maine” display. Additionally, the new Lunder Education Center will open to visitors.

Museum Director Bernard Fishman noted that the project allowed the institution to display objects from its collections that have never been shown before. While the upper levels are reopening this month, the lower levels—containing the “12,000 Years in Maine” and “Made in Maine” exhibits—are expected to open in a later phase, likely within the next year. To celebrate the reopening, the museum is offering free admission through the end of the year.