Augusta Museums
(Augusta, Maine - ME, USA)
An eclectic assortment of fascinating exhibits await visitors at the Maine State Museum, which is to be found standing on State Street in downtown Augusta, close to the State Law Library, the Governor's Office and the Maine State House. The exhibits are spread over a series of four different levels and comprise various historical, natural science and cultural collections and displays, some of which date all the way back to the Ice Age.
Families looking for a little fun in Augusta should be sure to pay a visit to the Children's Discovery Museum on Capitol Street, especially on a rainy day. Although this is more of an educational play area than a museum as such and isn't an overly large space, families with youngsters will find plenty to occupy and stimulate their minds.
Part of the University of Maine at Augusta and situated close to the Robinson Hall, the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine was established in the middle of the 1980s and is often abbreviated to simply the 'HHRC'. This museum-type attraction concentrates on how intolerance has affected the world in the past and still continues to create divides today, through educational exhibitions designed to stimulate social conscience.
Maine State Museum
Address: 230 State Street, Augusta, Maine (ME), 04333, USA
Tel: +1 207 287 2301
Particularly impressive at the Maine State Museum are the history collections, which together are made up of in excess of half a million artifacts, ranging from antique silverware and ceramics, to a sizeable restored water-powered mill, old black and white photographs, and Civil War flags. The Pre-History Archaeology Laboratory is another highlight, with its Native American canoes and prehistoric tools, while the Natural Science Division is where you will find collections of plants, animals and birds. Of note, Capitol Park lies just across the street, and the Kennebec River Rail Trail is only a matter of minutes away.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday (end November) - 13:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, children five years old and under are free
Maine Military Historical Society Museum (MMHS)
Address: 194 Winthrop Street, Augusta, Maine (ME), 04330, USA
Tel: +1 207 626 4468
Located right next to the Augusta State Airport and close to both the Forest Grove Cemetery and the Mount Hope Cemetery, the Maine Military Historical Society Museum is packed with militaria relating to the city. The society came into being in 1987, being formed as a non-profit organisation where the state's rich military heritage could be preserved for future generations to admire - and not just those with military backgrounds. It is worth noting that the museum usually only opens once a month, so you will either need to carefully time your visit or make prior arrangements.
Open hours: first Sunday of the month - 10:00 to 14:00, appointments required for other dates
Admission: free
Children's Discovery Museum
Address: 171 Capitol Street, Augusta, Maine (ME), 04330, USA
Tel: +1 207 622 2209
Friendly volunteers are on hand to guide the children around the Children's Discovery Museum and its different 'play stations', which include a bank, restaurant and shop, as well as computers, trains, a space for art creations and musical instruments. Most youngsters will be happy to play here for a couple of hours or more, although it can be extremely busy at the weekend. There are a number of shops nearby, if you wish to tie in your visit with a shopping trip.
Open hours: Tuesday to Thursday - 10:00 to 16:00, Friday and Saturday: 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, children under one year old are free
Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine (HHRC)
Address: Michael Klahr Center, University of Maine at Augusta, 46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine (ME), 04330, USA
Tel: +1 207 621 3530
The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine stands within the university's eye-catching Michael Klahr Center, which opened as recently as 2008 and is rather contemporary in its appearance, with curving sections of glass windows and copper sheets. Highlights include thought-provoking Nazi propaganda, a library, actual Holocaust testimonies and themed exhibits. Past events staged here have included International Women's Day, Hunger in Maine, Blood and Tears: The Arab-Israeli Conflict, and American World War II Cartoonists.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: free, donations suggested