7 Best Museums In Maine

From lighthouses to trolley cars and moon rocks, the seven best museums in Maine offer visitors a diverse yet interconnected experience. Many focus on Maine’s deep ties to the sea, such as the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, or art inspired by Maine’s seascape places such as the Portland Museum of Art. Railway buffs can even bring their four-legged friends along for a vintage trolley ride at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. They all share a passion for telling Maine’s story, whether through art, history, or quirky treasures, inviting visitors to dive into the heart of what makes the Pine Tree State so unforgettable.

Portland Museum of Art, Portland

The Portland Museum of Art (PMA) is Maine’s oldest and largest public art institution. Located in the Arts District in downtown Portland, the area is home to art galleries, studios, the Maine College of Art (MECA), the Museum of African Culture, and is close to trendy restaurants like Regards, serving coastal bites on shared plates, or the Little Tap House. The PMA was founded in 1882 and grew over the years, but the donation of 17 pieces of art by the renowned American artist Winslow Homer put it on the map, showcasing Maine’s rich artistic history. Today, the collection includes over 19,000 artworks, ranging from Andy Warhol to Claude Monet. The PMA throws a free party every Thursday, with live music, food trucks, artists, and more, and the museum is always free for anyone aged 21 and under all year.

Maine Maritime Museum, Bath

The Maine Maritime Museum was founded in 1962 by residents dedicated to preserving the state’s maritime heritage. It initially operated from a rented storefront, but after receiving support from the community and several patrons, it established a location on the banks of the Kennebec River. Over the years, it expanded to include a 20-acre campus featuring historical shipyard buildings, interactive exhibits, and waterfront access for boat tours, which is the real draw here.

The Merrymeeting is a 50-passenger tour boat that takes museum visitors on a variety of different river cruises, from a 2-hour Lighthouse & Nature Cruise, a 4-hour Lighthouse Lovers Cruise to a Burnt Island Lighthouse Adventure where nature lovers can spend 30 minutes exploring this historic five-acre island’s nature trails, the 1857 keeper’s house, and the still-active 1821 rubble stone light tower. A boat tour ticket purchase includes a two-day admission to the museum. After the museum, stop at Bath’s go-to landmark, Mae’s Cafe and Bakery, for a cappuccino and a sweet treat.

Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport

Established in 1939, the Seashore Trolley Museum is the world’s first and largest electric railway museum, housing a collection of over 350 mass transit vehicles, including trolleys, rapid transit trains, vintage streetcars, and more. The museum’s campus includes three carhouses filled with beautifully restored trolleys and electric vehicles from almost every city in the U.S. and worldwide. For visitors who like to tinker with trains, there’s a Restoration Shop where cars are being restored or maintained and a museum shop for souvenirs. The Seashore Trolley Museum is the perfect way to step back in time with family and friends, and the venue is entirely dog-friendly, with dogs also welcome on the 1900s vintage trolley tours on a heritage railroad around the museum.

Kennebunkport is a favorite holiday destination in Maine, close to beaches like gorgeous Goose Rocks Beach, unique shops, art galleries, and award-winning restaurants in Dock Square. Local landmark and Kennebunkport tradition, Alisson’s Restaurant is the perfect post-museum spot for fresh Maine lobster rolls and 26 local craft beers on tap.

Maine Lighthouse Museum, Rockland

Nothing captures the essence of Maine quite like its iconic lighthouses, standing tall and steadfast against the state’s rugged Atlantic coastline. Although Michigan may have more lighthouses than any other state, the sheer density of picturesque lighthouses makes Maine famous for these maritime landmarks. Officially founded in 2005, the Maine Lighthouse Museum grew out of the passion of retired Coast Guard Officer, the late Ken Black (affectionately known as “Mr. Lighthouse).

The museum is home to the most extensive collection of lighthouses, lifesaving, and U.S. Coast Guard artifacts and mementos in the United States. The museum is a must-see for maritime history buffs and lighthouse lovers of all ages. Located in historic downtown Rockland, the museum overlooks Penobscot Bay. Keep the coastal vibes alive with a visit to one of the nearby eateries on the water, like Archer’s On the Pier, Claws, or Hill’s Seafood Company.

Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, Bethel

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM) is in the charming small town of Bethel in Oxford County. Opened in 2019 to celebrate the mineralogy of Maine, the shining star of the museum’s permanent collection is the largest piece of moon ever to fall to Earth. The museum unveiled the spectacular treasure on July 19, 2019, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon on July 20, 1969. The unassuming museum is also home to the five biggest pieces of the moon ever discovered, more than the top ten science museums combined. The Stifler Collection of Meteorites includes a sample of the Black Beauty meteorite from Mars and pieces of the giant asteroid Vesta. After channeling your inner geologist, head to Butcher Burger for a gourmet Surf & Turf burger and ½ pound of triple-cooked fries made from Maine potatoes.

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor

Grab a coffee at the Choco-Latté Café in downtown Bar Harbor and watch the sunrise on nearby Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park, the first place to see the sunrise because of its elevation and location on the eastern coast. Then head to the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor to get a deep dive into the history and culture of the Wabanaki people, a word that means “People of the Dawnland” in the Algonquian language, referring to their homeland in the eastern part of the U.S., where the sun first rises. Founded in 1926, it was the first institution in Maine to sponsor archaeological research and conduct excavations throughout the state. The museum’s core exhibit is called “People of the Light,” and shares over 12,000 years of history, conflict, adaptation, and survival of the Wabanaki. The museum hosts the Dawnland Festival of Arts & Ideas 2025 in July, featuring over 50 Indigenous artisans from across the U.S. and Canada.

Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit

The stunning ocean views and three acres of beautifully landscaped sculpture gardens are only one of the reasons to visit the Ogunquit Museum of American Art (OMAA) in one of Maine’s most charming beach towns, Ogunquit. The museum was founded in 1953 by Henry Strater, a member of the Lost Generation group of primarily American artists and writers expatriates who left the U.S. for Europe post World War I. After success in Paris, he built a home in Ogunquit, once a vibrant artist’s colony. The museum he founded houses a permanent collection of important paintings, sculptures, drawings, and more from the late 1800s. Pick up an Art Colony Walking Tour at the museum and explore points of interest around the fishing village of Perkins Cove with a stop for coffee at the Mornings in Paris Café.

Maine’s top museums offer a mix of history, art, and pure wonder. The Portland Museum of Art shines with Winslow Homer’s masterpieces and a party vibe every Thursday. In Rockland, the Maine Lighthouse Museum celebrates coastal beacons, and in Bethel, the Mineral & Gem Museum dazzles with moon rocks and meteorites. Dive into Wabanaki culture at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, or soak up the art scene and ocean views at Ogunquit Museum of American Art. The seven best museums in Maine are the perfect excuse to take a few hours away from the beach to celebrate what makes this maritime treasure unique.