State of Mind: Becoming Maine exhibition

On March 13, 2020, Maine Historical Society (MHS) opens State of Mind: Becoming Maine, a major Bicentennial exhibition that will delve into how Maine became the 23rd state in the Union on March 15, 1820. Working with collaborators James Francis, Bob Greene, Deborah Cummings Khadroui, Lise Pelletier, Darren Ranco and Donald Soctomah, the exhibit will explore: What was Maine before 1820? How and why did it separate from Massachusetts? How did the Missouri Compromise put Maine at the center of the slavery debate? And how has Maine been shaped by thousands of years of history? State of Mind will present the perspectives of how Statehood affected four communities: the Wabanaki (first people of Maine) and the earliest settlers—Acadian-French, Black, and English-speaking peoples. The exhibition features items from MHS’s outstanding collection of documents, maps, and correspondence, alongside contemporary artwork.

Best policy is to call ahead for times the exhibition is open each day.