Many of Maine's historic homes are preserved as museums. Among them:
- The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's childhood home is the oldest brick residence in Portland.
- The Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick is the partially restored home of this Civil War Hero, Maine Governor and President of Bowdoin College. Its public rooms contain numerous artifacts relating to Chamberlain, his family, and his extraordinary career.
- The Maine State Museum in Augusta highlights the history of the state and its people. The Museum has 142 groups of historic artifacts and scientific specimens consisting of 907 objects.
- The Maine State Archives maintains the official records of Maine State government, including vital records (births, deaths, marriages) prior to 1922 which are useful in tracing family histories. The 60 million pages in the Archive's collection include Civil War photos and correspondence, court records beginning in 1639, state legislative and administrative records from 1820.
- The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, collects, preserves and interprets materials relating to the maritime history of Maine. Maine's nautical history is told through gallery exhibits, a historic shipyard site, and adult and children's educational programs. The Maine Maritime Museum is a porthole into the state's nautical heritage.
For more information on museums, please visit The Maine Office of Tourism at http://visitmaine.com/.