After More Than 6 Years, the Maine State Museum in Augusta Is Finally Reopening With Major Changes

If you’ve been wondering when the Maine State Museum in Augusta is finally going to reopen, we officially have a date.

The museum will reopen its doors on October 24 after being closed since June 2020, more than six years. And after that long of a wait, it’s not just reopening with a fresh coat of paint. The museum has gone through some pretty major changes.

A Lot Has Changed Inside

According to the Museum, The Cultural Building, which is also home to the Maine State Library and State Archives, basically needed a down-to-the-bones renovation. The work included upgrades for energy efficiency, accessibility, building codes, technology and creating a safer environment for the museum’s collections.

There will also be more than 19,000 square feet of new exhibits, displays and gathering spaces to check out. One of the biggest additions is a 4,130-square-foot whale gallery featuring two humpback whale skeletons.

One of them is “Vector,” a 45-foot adult female humpback that was tracked and studied in the Gulf of Maine for 35 years.

New Exhibits for the Reopening

Kids will have something new to explore too. The Lunder Education Center will be the museum’s first space specifically designed for learning, curiosity and play.

Other exhibits opening include “Maine Quilts: 250 Years of Comfort and Community” and “Beyond the Postcard: Stories of the Maine Experience.” The longtime “At Home in Maine” exhibit is also coming back with new stories, objects and interactive experiences.

After more than six years, it’ll be pretty cool to finally see what they’ve been working on.