Maine Historical Society facts for kids
The Maine Historical Society is a special group that works to save and share the history of the U.S. state of Maine. Think of it like a treasure chest for Maine's past! It's located in downtown Portland, at 489 Congress Street.
This society does a lot of cool things. It takes care of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, which is a very old and important building. It also manages the Longfellow Garden, the Maine Historical Society Museum and Store, and the Brown Research Library. Plus, they have an amazing online collection called the Maine Memory Network. This website lets you explore old documents and pictures from all over Maine!
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Discovering Maine's Past: The Maine Historical Society
The Maine Historical Society was started way back in 1822. This makes it one of the oldest historical societies in the United States! Only the Massachusetts Historical Society and the New York Historical Society are older. Many important people from Maine helped create and run the society. These included business leaders, thinkers, people who gave money to good causes, and political figures. Some famous members were James Phinney Baxter and Josiah Crosby.
Leaders of the Society: Who Were the Presidents?
Many important people have led the Maine Historical Society over the years.
- William Willis, who was the mayor of Portland, was the president from 1856 to 1865.
- James Phinney Baxter served as president for a long time, from 1889 to 1921.
- Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., who is Maine's official state historian, was president from 1977 to 1979.
The Brown Library: A Treasure Chest of History
The research library at the Maine Historical Society is named after John Marshall Brown and his wife, Alida (Carroll) Brown. The building where the library is now was built in 1907. It was designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, who was the nephew of the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This building is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The library got a big makeover in 2007, and that's when it was named for the Brown family. Since 1822, the Maine Historical Society has been collecting books and other items for its library. This collection is all about the history of Maine. You can find books, old papers, maps, newspapers, and even old photographs there. They also have engineering and architectural drawings. The library is also a great place to research your family history, especially if your family came from Maine, early New England, or eastern Canada.
Exploring Maine's Stories: The Maine Historical Society Museum
The Maine Historical Society Museum is located at the society's main building in Portland. The museum has different exhibits that change over time. These exhibits cover many interesting parts of Maine's history. You can learn about Maine's politics, its culture, sports, religion, art, and even its businesses. It's a great way to see how Maine has changed and grown over the years!
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