Crowning the nation’s Northeast, Maine is renowned for its rich art, history and culture
Home to not only a vibrant art scene but also a wealth of learning opportunities that cover a wide variety of topics. Students have ample opportunities at these destinations to dive into educational experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime.
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Portland Museum of Art (PMA) (Portland)
Visit the largest and oldest public art institution in Maine and discover a stunning collection of art. The Portland Museum of Art has been the city’s cornerstone of cultural and historical appreciation of the arts for over 140 years. They are committed to accessibility and openness to all, including free admission for guests 21 and younger and free school tours. Explore all walks of art life here, featuring a guided tour full of unique experiences. Through artists’ spotlights and historical highlights, their exhibitions elevate narratives and perspectives from artists who have shaped the local culture. Students are inspired to engage in deep explorations of artwork through conversations, inquiries, and hands-on activities. Through firsthand experiences and engaging discoveries, students’ visits will help build their creativity in the classroom and beyond.
Inspire young learners with a field trip to the Portland Museum of Art. Photo credit: Portland Museum of Art Facebook
Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor)
Hands-on activities at the Maine Discovery Museum. Photo credit: Maine Discovery Museum Facebook
Tap into your curious side at Maine’s largest children’s museum. For over two decades, the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor has strived to cultivate curiosity through a variety of creative explorations. Through their programming, students are encouraged to investigate the messy, fun, and curious side of science. Guests can become a pet vet for the day, dig up and identify prehistoric fossils, or set sail aboard a 30-foot cargo ship; the possibilities here are endless. Help students spark their scientific side with tactile activities and fun thought experiments. With plenty of opportunities to discover, learn, and invent, students are engaging in entertaining scientific education. Whether you take a nature walk or investigate the robotics labs, this is a STEM dream destination for young minds.
Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum (Brunswick)
A northern wind sweeps visitors into a magical world of arctic expeditions at Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum. With roots as an educational and research endeavor, there are centuries of scientific exploration and inquiry that have culminated in this natural history museum. Free school tours provide an opportunity for students to visit the museum or bring the Arctic right into the classroom. From art and cultural history to the importance of environmental science, there is a wealth of knowledge for students to learn and explore here. Exhibits on Inuit culture help students shape an understanding of life in the Arctic, from historical moments through to modern-day. Support in-class learning opportunities, both before and after your visit, with their educational resources. Straight from the North Pole comes the historic blogs following real-life expeditions and discoveries. And current-day reports on the state of arctic sea ice are provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Fascinating exhibits tell the story of the Arctic at Peary-MacMillan. Photo credit: Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum Facebook
Brick Store Museum (Kennebunk)
Five historic buildings house the Brick Store Museum, a local hub of history, art, and culture. Founded in the midst of the Great Depression by a local artist, the museum’s mission is to illustrate the human experience through its expansive exhibits. Take a creative approach to meeting curriculum standards with educational programming that caters to different grade levels and interests. Curriculum focuses on great educational history lessons–highlighting local art, archaeology, and maritime history–and is supported by engaging hands-on activities. Swab the deck and hoist the sails with their shipbuilding curriculum that gives students a glimpse of local life in the 19th Century. Travel back to the Industrial Revolution, featuring a scavenger hunt down Main Street. Or dig into local archaeological processes with the Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance.
Fun and educational play with Lego art at the Brick Store Museum. Photo credit: Brick Store Museum Facebook
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Header image: Robotics programs engage students at the Maine Discovery Museum. Photo credit: Maine Discovery Museum Facebook
