Fort Kent
Founded in 1925, the Fort Kent Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Fort Kent, Maine. Stop by to visit the building’s buggies with Fort Kent memorabilia. The Railroad station opened in 1912 and includes a baggage room, an office for the station agent, and separate waiting rooms for women and men. Also on site are the Daigle Dube House reflecting an earlier family life, a one-room school house, a barn, and the Paul D. Thibodeau Visitor’s Center with annual displays.
Open Friday to Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
Donations are very much appreciated.
(207) 231-2433 or 231-1198 or our Facebook Page.
St. Francis
In 1964, a group of committed citizens established the St. Francis Historical Society to preserve our community’s history and heritage. Come see their rustic enclaves as well as a collection of old photographs, numerous artifacts and replicas of maps past that adorn the walls and shelves. We also have numerous genealogy resources.
Open last weekend of June to Labor Day
Weekend, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 pm - 4 pm.
Private tours by appointment.
Call 398-1024 or our Facebook page.
Allagash
The Allagash Historical Society/Museum highlights the Irish/Scottish heritage of the settlers of Allagash. You will find displays of lumbering, farming, and the St. John River log drives, as well as displays honoring the veterans of the town, histories of the schools and churches. Our newspaper clippings feature the high school basketball team that became state champion. Our photograph collection demonstrates ways of life when the first settlers came up the mighty St. John River.
Open Open Sat., Sun., and holiday from 12:00 pm–5:00 pm
Check out our Facebook page.
Cyr Plantation
This 1934, original one-room schoolhouse was named in honor of the Governor at the time of its construction, Louis J. Brann. It is situated three miles south of Van Buren on Rt#1 in Cyr Plantation. This building, which is on the register of National Historic Buildings, has been beautifully preserved and is filled with memorabilia and artifacts. Friendly staff will welcome your visit.
Open Friday to Sunday from 1 to 4 pm
(207) 445-6150.
Acadian Village, Van Buren
Visit the largest Acadian Village, Heritage Vivant, in the U.S. outside of Louisiana. Seventeen buildings illustrate the progress of Acadian ancestors, from an actual 1790s dirt-floor log home to early 1900s houses. Timons, furnishings, and items of daily living are displayed, along with a log chapel and one-room school. Tours are available and a country store sells books, local souvenirs and snacks.
Open daily mid-June to mid September: 12 noon to 5 pm. Admission fee.
859 Main St. (U.S. Rt. One) Van Buren
207-868-5042 or check our Facebook Page.
Lille
Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel was founded in 1973 in order to preserve and restore the former Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, a Roman Catholic church that was built in 1908-09. It was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. This museum consists of the former church as well as the former Lawrence Parent General Store now known as the Gabrielle Litteur-St-Jean. The museum exhibits a rich collection of Acadian and Quebecois artifacts and antiques, religious material and books, documents, recordings, and photographs.
Open from mid-June to Labor Day. Sunday through Friday: 12:00–3:00pm.
(207) 895-3339 or check our Facebook page.
Grand Isle
This site preserves artifacts and promotes the contributions of Grand Isle and Isle residents to the Acadian culture of Maine's St. John River Valley. The museum showcases farming implements and a broad array of other items: genealogical materials, historical maps, kitchen cards, and household objects, domestic items, and other folk art. Our museum is a “must-see memory-jogger” for young and old. In 2009, the Society acquired the picnic/rest area from the Maine DOT located in the Grand Isle and Madawaska town line. This site overlooks the majestic St. John River and remains a summer picnic/rest site.
Open Mid-June to Labor Day
Friday to Sunday from noon to 4 pm or by appointment.
(207) 895-6948,
info@grandislehistoricalsociety.org
www.grandislehistoricalsociety.org
Frenchville
The Frenchville Historical Society is caretaker for the Green Water Tower, the Caboose, and the Wylie House. The Water Tower was constructed in 1910, the only existing water tower east of the Mississippi River that still seeks its active railroad. The caboose holds many artifacts from the station's glory days. The Wylie House was built in 1916 and features many artifacts that reflect the town’s history. Part of its attic was used during prohibition to signal bootleggers in Canada when the coast was clear!
Open every Saturday and some Sundays, 1-4 pm.
(207) 543-7990 or our Facebook Page.
Madawaska Historic Society
The Madawaska Historical Society owns and operates the Tante Blanche museum complex and Acadian Cross Landing, situated in St. David. Acadian artifacts are displayed in the museum, schoolhouse, and Allert House. Tour guides share the history of the early Acadian settlers to the area. The Cross site commemorates the arrival of Acadians to this region in 1785. Books of family genealogy and Acadian history are for sale.
Open Thursday to Sunday, Noon to four. Tours by appointment.
(207) 728-4396
Check out our Facebook Page
Email genealogy questions to info@clubrichelieusj.org.
Ste. Agathe
The Marquis house, one of the oldest homes in Ste. Agathe, is the site of the St. Agathe Historical Society, maintaining the house and its museum holdings. This oldest and smallest portion of the house was built in 1883 by Adélaïde Pelletier. The Preservation Building, located behind it, contains most of the society’s collections, with exhibits on farming and logging operations. Its summer programs include craft activities for kids, a textile section, and a collection of old artifacts including two barber chairs, a Sapless Convent Boarding School, and an agriculture and lumber section.
207-543-6911 or our Facebook Page
Acadian Archives acadiennes
The Acadian Archives are the primary repository for the study of Acadian history and culture in northern Maine and the St. John Valley and beyond. The collections include genealogical resources, photographs, maps, and artifacts in addition to oral histories, rare books, and sound recordings. Archives also hold curated outreach activities for schools as well as the public. 23 Long, Clad.
(207) 768-9526 or archives@maine.edu for more information
www.umfk.edu/archives/