Collections Uncharted: Discovering New Narratives

Maine Maritime Museum has cultivated a collection of over 20,000 objects related to the state’s extensive maritime history and global influence. While the collection has consistently grown over the last sixty years, only 5% is currently exhibited.  As a result, the majority of the collection has remained inaccessible to the public – both physically and digitally. The stories the objects tell, which shed light on the cultural and historical identity of Maine and its waterways, have too. Thanks to a grant awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in 2021, the museum is striving to chart a new course and significantly expand access to these stories, one object at a time.

 December 15, 2023–May 10, 2024