Maine

Maine’s got big plans for celebrating America’s 250th

Published

2 months ago

February 11, 2026

Maine’s got big plans for celebrating America’s 250th

Sometimes, history seems distant and dry, like black and white photos in a textbook.

But sometimes history feels vibrant, relatable and connected to the present. This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, is shaping up to be one of those times.

In Maine, museums, historical societies and other institutions are planning exhibits, lectures and events all year long. Mainers will be able to read a 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence as it tours all 16 counties. There will be exhibits exploring the lives of real Mainers during the Revolution, Maine’s contributions to American art, Wabanaki Nations’ place in the American narrative and how the country’s birthday has been celebrated and thought of in the past.

Maine Historical Society’s early copy of the Delcaration of Independence will be part of an exhibit opening in March, then will travel to all 16 counties in Maine to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.(Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)

“I think that any anniversary we commemorate allows us to take stock of where we have been and where we are,” said Libby Bischof, professor of history at the University of Southern Maine and executive director of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education in Portland. “It’s important to ask how the Revolution has been remembered, and how that memory has changed over time.”

Below is a list of some of the Maine museums and historical societies that have announced 250th anniversary events for 2026 so far, with dates, details and links for each. More organizations will likely announce events later in the year.

“Founding Memories: America at 250” now through June.

This exhibition uses maps, textbooks, posters and objects from the 1770s through the 1970s to look at the different and changing meanings the Revolution has had for Americans over the years. There’s a section on the Revolution in Maine, including maps of the town of Falmouth (now Portland) when it was burnt and destroyed by the British in October of 1775. There are maps and information on the disastrous defeat of American vessels during the Penobscot Expedition and of Benedict Arnold’s march through Maine, part of a failed attempt to capture Quebec City.

There are also war posters for World War I and World War II that used Revolutionary War images to bolster a patriotic spirit and induce enlistments. There’s a section on how Americans viewed and celebrated the country’s centennial and bicentennial, including the “Freedom Train,” which traveled the country with patriotic exhibits in 1976.

“Maine: A Force Within American Art (1890-2026)” now through Jan. 3, 2027.

This exhibit focuses on artists from Maine or with ties to Maine who had a huge impact on American art, especially in the last 130 years or so. These include Marsden Hartley, John Marin, George Bellows, and Charles Demuth. It highlights Maine institutions that have helped shape the national art scene, including the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Maine Media and Indigo Arts Alliance. The exhibit also explores Maine artistic centers, like Ogunquit, Monhegan and Slab City Road in Lincolnville.

Museums of the Bethel Historical Society

“Independence 250” Now through November

“Independence 250” is a project innitiated by the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society with partner organizations all over western Maine, and includes a dozen or more lectures and other events. On Saturday, historical society director Will Chapman will give a talk at the Mason House Museums in Bethel about how the U.S. Centennial of 1876 and Bicentennial of 1976 were celebrated in the Bethel area. On March 21, author and former Press Herald reporter Colin Woodard will give a talk at Gould Academy in Bethel about “the American experiment,” among other topics.

“Pathways to Freedom: Maine Stories of the American Revolution” March 13 – Dec. 31

This exhibit will focus on six residents of the district of Maine who lived through the Revolution: Mali Agat, a Wabanaki “doctress” and artist; William Bayley of Portland, who served in the Continental Army; Prince Dunsick, a formerly enslaved person who enlised in the Massachusetts Regiment; Peleg Wadsworth, grandfather of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and a leader of the Penoboscot Expedition; Francis Waldo, a Loyalist and member of the affluent Waldo family; Hannah Watts Weston, a pregnant, 17-year-old woman who carried 30-40 pounds of powder, lead and pewter some 16 miles to Machias, to support the Patriot cause.

Since the historical society could not find images of these people, Penobscot artist Shannon Sockalexis created life-sized illustrations, based on research about each person or their relatives. The exhibit includes other artifacts, including a Revoloutionary-era martime flag with 13 stars, and a 250-year-old copy of the Declaration of Indpendence known as a Dunlap Broadside. The document is one of 26 known to have survived from an early printing in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. In July, the document will begin a free tour of locations in all 16 Maine counties, which will end in October.

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor

“In the Shadow of the Eagle” May 26 – Oct. 30

This contemporary art exhibit “aims to share a greater understanding of Wabanaki Nations’ place within our ongoing national narrative,” according to the museum website. The title comes from a book by co-curator Donna Loring (Penobscot Nation) about her time spent as a Tribal Representative for Maine. Themes include military service, treaties and self-governance, and the exhibit features new art from Wabanaki artists, along with historical and loaned items as well.

“American Conversations” April 10 – Nov. 15 and “Looking for America” April 10 – July 19

“American Conversations” explores the concept of America with pairs of paintings meant to start conversations from a range of artists, including Marsden Hartley, Lynne Drexler and Lois Dodd, who all worked in Maine. “Looking for America” weaves the work of multidisciplinary artist Hank Willis Thomas with the work of eleven artists who have collaborated with his studio. Thomas is known for using art to examine history, identity and popular culture in the United States.

“Remembering the Revolution” June 27-Sept. 5

This scheduled exhibit will focus on local people involved in the Revolution, including Benjamin Simpson, who took part in the Boston Tea Party and served in the Continental Army, and Captain Jabez Lane of Buxton, who fought in campaigns from Boston to New York. The exhibit also will look at how the view of the Revolution was shaped over the years, including how the 1876 Centennial helped reinforce national unity after the Civil War and how the 1976 Bicentennial focused on similar themes, in the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate, according to the museum.

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Maine

Colleges: Despite two home runs, UML baseball team falls to Maine

Published

12 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Colleges: Despite two home runs, UML baseball team falls to Maine

One day after a nine-run victory over Maine, the UMass Lowell baseball team fell 9-5 to the Black Bears during America East action at LeLacheur Park in Lowell.

Despite the game being played in 35-degree temperatures, the River Hawks received a pair of home runs.

Catcher Nicholas Solorzano blasted a solo homer to right field in the second inning. In the ninth inning, first baseman Sean O’Leary ripped a pitch over the fence in right field.

UML managed eight hits. O’Leary led the offense, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and scoring two runs. Center fielder Carlos Martinez went 2-for-5 and drove in one run. Third baseman Joseph DeLanzo went 1-for-4 and collected one RBI.

But three UML pitchers allowed 14 hits to Maine, which scored twice in the second inning, three runs in the fourth and two more runs in the seventh.

Taking the loss was Brian Foley (0-2). Foley allowed seven hits and five earned runs, while striking out four, in 3.1 innings. He was followed on the mound by Nolan Geisler, who yielded seven hits and two earned runs in 3.2 innings.

Track

A group of runners from the UMass Lowell men’s and women’s outdoor track and field team competed on the final day of the Raleigh Relays on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Junior Emily Burdick (Billerica) kicked off the day in the women’s 800-meter run, finishing in 156th place with a 2:17.20 mark.

Next was the women’s 200, where junior Jayani Santos (Tewksbury) impressed with a 39th-place performance out of 149 runners in 24.75.

The men followed, starting with sophomore Michael Fisher (Wallingford, Conn.) in the 200. He claimed 80th place in 22.46. The 800m run closed out the weekend and graduate student Graham Stedfast (Rowley) and senior Basit Iddriss (Milford) ran well. Stedfast finished in 29th place with a time of 1:51.33, while Iddriss claimed 113th place in 1:53.98.

“It was a good finish to the trip,” said UML head coach Gary Gardner. “Mike and Jayani ran solid second races for the weekend. Emily and Basit had their fastest openers ever. Graham had an illness and lost 10 pounds last week so we are very pleased with his race.”

Women’s lacrosse

In Lowell, senior Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) posted a team-high five points, but UMass Lowell fell 16-10 to the Bryant Bulldogs in the team’s first home conference game of the season.

“A bit of a broken record here,” said UML head coach Lisa Miller. “We are competing. We had players who made and were trying to make plays. We need to keep scrapping, trying to come up with draw control and clear the ball. We are playing good defense and scoring consistently. Need to find a way to generate more offensive possessions.”

Shultz, who finished with three goals and two assists, was one of six River Hawks (4-7, 0-2 AE) to record at least a goal in the contest. Senior Grace Lydon (Rowley) collected two goals and two assists, while junior Bronwyn Hilbert (Lancaster, Pa.) added three points off a goal and two assists.

Junior Chloe Bowers (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) added a pair of goals, while sophomore Georgia Ruscitti (Toronto, Ontario) and redshirt freshman Chiara Pompei (Catonsville, Md.) each tallied a goal.

The River Hawks went straight to work, as Hilbert found Shultz open for the first goal of the contest just over a minute in. Only a few minutes later, the hosts struck again, this time with Lydon finding the back of the net off a Hilbert assist, putting her squad in front 2-0. The Bulldogs retaliated with haste, though, scoring four straight to take a 4-2 lead into the second quarter.

The River Hawks will visit the Binghamton Bearcats next Saturday.

Men’s lacrosse

Endicott College defeated Roger Williams, 19-3, in Conference of New England action at Hempstead Stadium in Beverly.

Adam Priest (Billerica) and Manny Marshall (Chelmsford) found the back of the net twice in the wire-to-wire victory.

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Maine

The Best Small Town In Maine For Seniors

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

The Best Small Town In Maine For Seniors

Whether you are a lifelong Mainer looking for a practical place to settle into retirement or you are planning a move from out of state, Bangor makes a strong case as a smart landing spot for seniors. Set inland and generally more affordable than many of Maine’s coastal communities, the third most populous city in the state delivers the essentials retirees care about: strong healthcare access and the feel of a regional hub. Fun local outings help round that out, from exploring the Cole Land Transportation Museum and its collection of historic vehicles to catching a concert at the Maine Savings Amphitheater on the waterfront. Stephen King’s famous former home on West Broadway also gives Bangor an extra point of interest that makes time in town feel a little more memorable. Better yet, Bangor puts you within easy driving distance of one of the country’s most recognizable protected landscapes: Acadia National Park and the Bar Harbor shoreline.

Money Makes it Farther in Bangor

Overlooking Bangor, Maine.

Stable living is a critical component of retiring comfortably, and Bangor makes this possibility a reality for seniors. Many retirees become renters in their golden years when they relocate, and the median rent in Bangor for a one-bedroom house is $1,300, according to Zillow data, which is lower than the national median. The housing market for those seniors looking to purchase a new home instead is similarly promising. Homes here have a median list price of approximately $305,000, which is lower than the almost $400,000 median list price across the country and in Maine.

In terms of cost of living, Bangor falls significantly below the coastal communities of Maine. According to the Economic Research Institute’s data, Bangor is 6% less expensive than the average city in Maine, and transportation costs are more affordable than the average in the United States.

Living Life to the Fullest

One of the primary advantages of living in Bangor is the amenities that come with its larger population and city size. Between healthcare, historical landmarks, cultural centers, and eateries, seniors do not have to compromise things to do as they age in Bangor.

Dining

Eating in the city is a combination of flavors, cultures, and experiences. Locals here love Dysart’s Restaurant Broadway, a part-gas station, part-truck stop that was recognized by Food & Wine Magazine as the best of its kind in America back in 2022. This restaurant has curated a menu focused on made-from-scratch Maine staple comfort foods, whether that is the Signature Mac & Cheese or the Maine Baked Beans.

Many locals will also help places like The Butcher, The Baker, solidify their claim as the Best American Restaurant in Bangor, by keeping this upscale dining option on Hammond Street popular year-round. The menu here is diverse and meticulously crafted over 40 years in the food service industry, whether you have a plate of drunken noodles or halibut.

Things to Do

Detail of the gate and house of Stephen King in Bangor, Maine. — The gate and house of Stephen King in Bangor, Maine.

Bangor has a lot of history to find and explore for seniors, especially those interested in the evolution of land transportation through the centuries. In the Cole Land Transportation Museum, right off of I-95 and a heavily frequented tourist attraction, visitors find over 200 vehicles ranging from the logging sleds of old to locomotives and 18-wheelers. This 35-acre facility also houses a few smaller museums dedicated to the World War II Veterans Memorial, the Maine Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Maine Korean Veterans Memorial.

Transition from history to entertainment with some of Bangor’s most frequented attractions, such as the sprawling Victorian mansion where world-renowned horror author Stephen King lived on West Broadway. For actual entertainment, seniors and other residents fill the seats of the Maine Savings Amphitheater all year, which draws major touring acts to the waterfront.

World-Renowned Healthcare

Being connected to one of the best healthcare facilities in the state makes senior living more manageable and keeps independent living possible. The Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center on State Street is highly regarded, recently earning the only overall five-star rating in Maine in Forbes’ Top Hospitals in America. This facility is known for a wide array of services ranging from cardiac care and cancer treatment to orthopedics and surgery. For seniors retiring in Bangor, having Maine’s only five-star hospital nearby is a critical component to aging comfortably and safely.

Explore Nearby Bar Harbor

Blue waters off Bar Harbor, Maine. — Overlooking Bar Harbor, Maine.

One of the best places for seniors to explore near Bangor is Bay Harbor, a highly recognizable coastal community in Maine. The town is about 50 miles south via Routes 1A and 3. Bar Harbor is the gateway to both Mount Desert Island and the greater Acadia National Park. This impressive natural wonder boasts 120 miles of trails for hiking up small summits and to places like Cadillac Mountain, and countless beautiful sights to behold from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole.

But the town has a lot to offer the senior for a day trip from Bangor as well, from the boutique shops, the locally owned eateries, and the whale-watching cruises. Places like Geddy’s stand out, known for being family-friendly and offering fresh seafood to go with their charming nautical themes. From ahi tuna tacos to fresh oysters, Geddy’s plates some of the best things to come out of the harbor.

Bangor Is Best for Seniors

Whether you have always lived in Maine and recently began considering the most affordable and connected place in the state for seniors entering retirement, or are making a multi-state move, Bangor makes a convincing argument as a sensible place to land. Bangor remains a more affordable option away from the coast, without compromising on amenities like a five-star hospital, and is a short drive from one of the nation’s most recognizable protected natural wonders, Acadia National Park.

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Maine

Howland woman charged with arson for 2022 fire at corner store

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Howland woman charged with arson for 2022 fire at corner store

HOWLAND (WGME) — The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says a Howland woman has been charged with arson in connection with a 2022 fire at the Howland Corner Store.

The fire happened on November 2, 2022 around 9:08 p.m.

First responders reported the fire was developing rapidly just after the store closed for the night.

Officials say 39-year-old Samantha Randall of Howland was arrested Friday and charged with arson.

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says a Howland woman has been charged with arson in connection with a 2022 fire at the Howland Corner Store. (State Fire Marshal’s Office)

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The investigation remains ongoing.

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