CALENDAR of EVENTS 2017

~EVENTS~

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Tuesday - Friday, February 21 - 24

MARCH

Tuesdays, March 14 - April 18

Friday, March 24

APRIL

Tuesday, April 4

Friday, April 7

MAY

Tuesday, May 2

Friday, May 27

JUNE

Tuesday, June 6

Wednesday, June 7

Monday, June 12

Friday, June 16

Tuesday, June 20

Friday, June 23

Monday, June 26

Wednesday, June 28

JULY

Wednesday - Friday, July 5 - 7

Friday, July 7

Wednesday, July 12

Friday, July 14

Wednesday, July 19

Monday, July 24

Tuesday, July 25

Wednesday, July 26

Friday, July 28

Saturday, July 29

AUGUST

Wednesday, August 2

Thursday, August 3

Friday - Sunday, August 4 - 6

Monday, August 7

Wednesday, August 9

Thursday, August 10

Monday, August 14

Tuesday, August 15

Wednesday, August 16

Friday, August 18

Saturday & Sunday, August 19 & 20

Tuesday, August 22

Thursday, August 24

Demonstrations -

Events -

The Amazing Doctor Wilson - February Vacation Day Camp

The Wilson Museum is excited to offer The Amazing Doctor Wilson, a children's camp recommended for grades 1 - 8, during February school break. Camp will begin on Tuesday, February 21 and end on Friday, February 24, starting each day at 8:30 a.m and concluding at 12 noon. All participants should bring a lunch and all-weather clothing for outside. The camp will explore the travels and adventures of Museum founder Dr. John Howard Wilson, as he discovered treasures that would establish the beginnings of his collection at the Wilson Museum.

Day 1 starts with exploring Dr. Wilson's life. Groups will construct a timeline of his life and deduce what it was like for him traveling abroad. Participants will make a pith helmet similar to the hat Dr. Wilson used while traveling. Everyone will learn how to use a compass. 

Day 2 will focus on outdoor shelter building. While traveling abroad, Dr. Wilson often explored far away from cities and relied on building basic structures for shelter. 

Day 3, students will explore one of Dr. Wilson's destinations - the American Southwest. Native American sand art and leatherworking will be the highlights of the day. Students will use the compass skills from Day 1 to complete an orienteering activity.

Day 4 will focus on documenting artifacts to be added to a museum collection. There will also be another orienteering activity. The conclusion of camp will be celebrated with a party.

Every camp day will include games, focusing on collaboration, problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, and strength - all qualities Dr. Wilson needed as a successful traveller.

It is not necessary to attend every day and parents are welcome to stay and participate as well. Pre-registration is required. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, February 14. The cost of the camp for one child is $5 per day, or $15 for the entire week. Contact the Museum at 207-326-9247 or info@wilsonmuseum.org .

The Role of Food in Film & Literature

NOTE: 1st session cancelled due to weather

Ever wonder why food is frequently mentioned (often at length) in literature and film? Join Harry Kaiserian for this free six-session course on Tuesdays from March 14 through April 18 (6 - 8 p.m.) at the Hutchins Education Center. If you thought popcorn was the only food with a supporting role in the movies, consider these favorites: Ratatouille, Chocolat, Fried Green Tomatoes, Babette's Feast, and Like Water for Chocolate. Does the title of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's tell us something about Holly Golightly? Let's find out what Holly had for breakfast, watch a few films and enhance our enjoyment of movies and literature by gaining an understanding of the contribution of food to the plot.

Harry Kaiserian has been cooking since he was eleven and has been reading and going to the movies longer than that: this series combines three of his favorite activities. He has been writing a weekly food column for over twenty-five years and has taught cooking classes to a wide variety of audiences. Though not a professional cook, he has visited kitchens around the world and sampled and prepared much of the world's cuisine. Harry likes to talk about the wonderful world of cuisine and has presented variations of this course in several venues.

Please register for this free series by calling 207-326-9247 or email info@wilsonmuseum.org .

Knowing What You Have

Castine Historical Society’s curator, Paige Lilly, and Wilson Museum’s Collections Manager, Abby Dunham, welcomed colleagues from across Hancock County on March 24 to the Museum’s Hutchins Education Center. The gathering focused on “Knowing What You Have” with a discussion of museum inventories and basic methods for performing an inventory. Paige and Abby shared the experiences at their organizations of planning, implementing, and following up after an inventory project. The group, representing more than a dozen historical societies and museums, spoke on their own inventory plans, challenges, and experiences. This led to a lively discussion and exchange of ideas that continued over lunch. The group is eager to plan another meet-up and has also heard interest in future events from colleagues who were not able to join this recent get-together.

Mayan Weavers

Enjoy an armchair traveling experience with Penobscot summer resident and long-time weaver Marjorie Wheeler as she shares her trip to the mountain villages of Guatemala. Co-sponsored by the Castine Woman's Club and the Wilson Museum, Marjorie's visual presentation on Tuesday, April 4 at 1 p.m. will take place in the Museum's Hutchins Education Center in Castine. Learn about the industrious Mayan women weavers (and some men as well) who market and sell their products through the Fair Trade organization MayanHands.org.

Marjorie Wheeler is a retired teacher from Connecticut with degrees in Home Economics and Vocational Education. She is a member of the Handweavers Guilds of America in both Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as a member of the Castine Woman's Club.

This program is open to the public and free of charge.

April Coffee House

Wilson Museum's second April Coffee House will take place on Friday, April 7th from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with three musical offerings to help clear out the winter blues. Add a steaming cup of Bucklyn Coffee with some delicious baked goods in the sparkling ambiance of the Hutchins Education Center and you have a laid-back evening of acoustic entertainment not to be missed.

Returning this year will be the Pleasant Street Band, a group of Maine Maritime Academy students with a smooth, soulful sound as well as the Leftovers, Blue Hill's premiere semi-unprofessional musical ensemble featuring a unique combination of rhythm and blues, funk and soul. New to the Coffee House will be Sorcha Cribben-Merrill, a nationally recognized singer-songwriter who composes stirring music steeped in folk, blues, jazz and soul, and performs with a powerful, sultry voice.

The Coffee House is free and open to the public. Baked goods and Bucklyn Coffee will be available by donation - funds raised will go toward educational programming at the Wilson Museum. See you there!

Go On and Get Scraped-Up: The Importance of Getting Kids Outside  

Everyone knows that kids should play outside, but kids in America are actually getting less and less outside time. Cherie Galyean will take a look at the research done on the importance of outside play time in a presentation, co-sponsored by the Castine Woman’s Club and the Wilson Museum, on Tuesday, May 2 at 1 p.m. in the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center. Learn about some changes – both societal and at home – that can help reverse the current trend.

Cherie Galyean works at the Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth, where she oversees its education initiatives. Since 2014 she has written The Scraped-Up Kid, a blog on the Bangor Daily News website, which encourages families to get outside and tracks her own adventures with her family. Cherie lives in Bar Harbor with her husband and two children.

This program is open to the public and free of charge.

Tea with Ellenore  

Castine Woman’s Club and the Wilson Museum invite you to join them for Tea with Ellenore—a unique program offering a glimpse into the life of the Wilson Museum’s Ellenore Doudiet, as presented by one of her “friends” portrayed by Johanna Sweet. Rare photos of Ellenore, examples of her artwork, and anecdotes from her life and that of her family will fill this teatime program at the Hutchins Education Center on Tuesday, June 6 (1-2 p.m.).

Join us to learn about this remarkable woman whose life as the daughter of archaeologist John Howard Wilson (founder of the Wilson Museum) enabled her to participate as a child in her father’s archaeological expeditions, whose young adulthood met with love and tragedy, and whose devotion to her beloved Nautilus Island and the Castine community enriched the world well beyond local borders. Tea and a variety of delicious sweet treats will be served; the linen tablecloths, fine china and silver all recalling the style and ambiance of a bygone era.

This program is free and open to the public.

Maja Trivia  

It's tournament time! The fifth year of Maja Trivia, a game celebrating the rich history of the region once known as Majabigwaduce, now the towns of Brooksville, Castine, and Penobscot, is drawing to an exciting conclusion. Throughout the school year, 5th - 8th grade students from Penobscot Community School, Brooksville Elementary School, and Castine's Adams School have been playing Maja Trivia practice rounds. Now it's time to test their knowledge!

Each school will compete in a semi-final competition sponsored by the town's respective historical society. Four finalists from each school will move on to compete at the Wilson Museum on Wednesday, June 7 from 9:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m. to determine the Maja Trivia champion!

Join us for all four competitions, support the students, and learn about the intriguing and often colorful histories of the three towns. Here is the complete schedule:

Maja Trivia was developed by the Wilson Museum in collaboration with the Castine, Brooksville, and Penobscot Historical Societies with new categories and questions added each year.

The Struggles of Ugandan Children and Families

The struggles of children and families in Uganda will be the topic for a talk Monday, June 12 (7 p.m.) at the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center. John Shiundu, Director of the Kidron Valley Children's Home and Boarding School in Jinja, Uganda, will speak about adoption and the fate of un-adoptable children in African orphanages, the Ugandan dowry system and its challenges, the plight of prison inmates, and the work he and his wife are doing to empower women and families with small home businesses - including chicken farming and hair care training. His organization also runs a clinic for malaria, childbirth, and emergency care. Joining Mr. Shiundu will be two young Ugandan-born children who have recently been adopted into a family from the local area.

This program is free and open to the public.

Apple Jelly, Snowballs, and Rural Sociability in 19th Century Recipes  

For people of most times, places, and ethnicities, food contains significant political, economic, and social implications. On Tuesday, June 20 (3 - 5 p.m.), at the Hutchins Education Center, food historian Rachel Snell will explore two recipes: apple jelly and snowballs. She will use these recipes to represent the application of genteel ideals in rural 19th century North America and how they were adapted to fit the rhythms and constraints of rural life. In addition to sampling the recipes, the presentation will discuss serving, dining etiquette, and the connections between food and performance of femininity in that era.

Dr. Rachel Snell is an adjunct instructor in History and Honors at the University of Maine. Her doctoral book project, The Place of Happiness: Recipes, Cookbooks, and the Negotiation of Domesticity in Anglo-America, 1830 - 1880, gives the reader an in-depth look at the role of food in the mid to late 19th century. She resides in Old Town, Maine, with her family.

This program is open to the public and free of charge.

Backyard Plants for Food and Medicine 

Learn how to use your wild surroundings to enhance your diet and health with Dr. Nate Petley, naturopathic doctor and clinical herbalist on Friday, June 23 at 3 p.m. in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. Dr. Petley will share his favorite easy-to-find and easy-to-recognize backyard herbs as well as discuss how to identify, harvest and process them before using.

Dr. Nathaniel Petley, MS, ND is an accomplished herbalist and lecturer with 20 years of experience. He studied landscape horticulture and botany at the University of Maine and later earned his Master’s degree at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Plant Science. It was his love of the botanical world that led Dr. Petley to naturopathic medicine and the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine where he graduated in 2013. Returning to his home state of Maine, Dr. Petley founded the Maine Center for Natural Health, a naturopathic clinic in Waterville.

This program is open to the public and free of charge.

Protected by the Crown Fundraising Dinner  

The Friends of Castine Fortifications invite the community to partake in a fundraising dinner to be held Monday, June 26 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. Funds raised will be used in support of the program "1779-1783 Fort George: Protected by the Crown" events scheduled for the fall. Dine like the troops on traditional Scottish, Colonial and German dishes. Cost for the supper is $50 per person. There will be a cash bar. Space is limited - to reserve your seat, contact friendsofcastinefortifications@gmail.com.

Holbrook Sanctuary Boat Trip  

Maine Maritime Academy and the Wilson Museum are offering a unique way to visit Holbrook Sanctuary, located in Brooksville. Board the boat, an open launch, provided by MMA on Wednesday, June 28 or Wednesday, July 26 at 9 a.m., returning at 12 noon. A trip will take 45 minutes each way with about an hour to explore ashore. While ashore take advantage of swimming, fishing, or hiking along a network of old roads, paths, and animal trails leading visitors through a variety of coastal habitats. Holbrook Sanctuary provides an opportunity to explore an incredibly diverse ecosystem whose future is being shaped by natural forces rather than human hands.

Visitors will meet a Museum representative and MMA crew promptly at 9:00 a.m. at MMA Waterfront for a pre-boarding and safety check. Each passenger should provide his/her own Personal Flotation Device for the trip, if possible; a limited number are available through MMA. This program is free and open to the public. However, reservations must be made at least 2 days in advance of departure. Space is limited. Children must be accompanied by an adult. There is no “bad weather” date.

Building an Outdoor Bake Oven  

Something is being cooked up outside the John Perkins House on the Wilson Museum Campus this summer. Building and Grounds Manager Sherm Hutchins will be building an outdoor bake oven, weather permitting, beginning on Wednesday, July 5, through Friday, July 7, or until completed. If the weather doesn’t look good, this project will be postponed (check back here for updates). Bake oven construction is a several stage process and will include creating a base, mounding wet sand to form a dome shape, laying brick, and building arches to create the oven doorway. So, stop by often (generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) and lend a hand or watch the progress over the three days. On Thursday afternoon Director Patty Hutchins will demonstrate various other outdoor cooking methods including campfire cooking and bean-hole-bean cookery. Return on Friday afternoon when the beans are pulled from the hole and sample their wonderful aroma and flavor. Other outdoor cooking events have been scheduled for August 10 from 2 - 5 p.m. and September 20 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. using the newly completed and cured bake oven.

Tardigrades in Maine

Pudgy wudgy was a bear - water bear, that is. Tardigrades (also known as pudgy wudgies or water bears) will be the subject of a talk by Dr. Emma Perry at the Hutchins Education Center on Friday, July 7 at 3 p.m. Tardigrades are microscopic organisms that live both on land and in water and are found throughout Maine and the world. These fascinating creatures have the ability to survive extremes of environmental conditions including the vacuum of space by going dormant while still remaining viable for years.

Dr. Emma Perry has a degree in Zoology from Exeter University in Great Britain, where she was born and raised. She received a PhD in Biology from the University of South Florida. Now a professor at Unity College in Maine, she has become more generally interested in the biology and systematics of lesser known marine invertebrates, such as tardigrades.

This program is open to the public and free of charge.

Castine Harbor and Lower Bagaduce River Boat Tours 

View Castine from another perspective. Maine Maritime Academy and the Wilson Museum are offering two exciting opportunities to explore Castine Harbor and the lower Bagaduce River. Board an open launch, provided by MMA, on Wednesday, July 12 or August 9 at 10 a.m., returning at 11:30 a.m. Historical sites and stories of Castine Harbor and the lower Bagaduce River will be highlighted along the way. Sightings of seals, eagles and other wild life are possible so be sure to bring your camera.

Visitors will meet a Museum representative and MMA crew promptly at 10 a.m. at MMA Waterfront for pre-boarding and safety check. Each passenger should provide his/her own personal flotation device for the trip, if possible; a limited number are available through MMA. Reservations must be made by Monday prior to each trip. Space is limited and fills quickly - call 207-326-9247 or email info@wilsonmuseum.org. Children must be accompanied by an adult. There are no “bad weather” dates.

These boat tours are free and open to the public.

Fireside Cooking 

As you punch in the seconds on the microwave oven in your twenty-first century kitchen, have you ever wondered how our ancestors cooked in large open fireplaces and what kinds of foods they prepared? The kitchen of the John Perkins House will be the venue for such wonder when fireside cooking is demonstrated (as part of a guided tour) on: July 12, August 2, and August 16, from 2-5 p.m. The John Perkins House is located at 120 Perkins Street in Castine and is part of the Wilson Museum campus. Guided tours of the John Perkins House begin on the hour and are $5 per person; tour visitors may enjoy some tasty morsels from the day's fare. Should you miss our fireside cooking demonstrations you can still visit the John Perkins House on Wednesdays and Sundays from 2 - 5 p.m. throughout July and August or by appointment.

Also, check out the new outdoor cooking demonstrations on August 10 and September 20.

Castine's Bastille Day Celebration: Cool Treats at the Museum

As part of Castine’s second annual Bastille Day Celebration on Friday, July 14, the Wilson Museum is pleased to offer a cool way to spend part of your afternoon while highlighting a different and ancient connection to France. Visit the Museum and view French Paleolithic artifacts made 450,000 to 10,000 years ago. Dr. J. Howard Wilson’s passion to explore and study early humans, found him in many parts of France in the late 19th and early 20th century. These trips led to a prehistoric collection of extraordinary quality with significant potential as an educational and cultural resource. After studying this collection, New York University professor Randall White wrote: "I know of important European museums that would “die” to have Paleolithic and Neolithic collections of this quality." What a mind-blowingly old and rare treat right here in Castine!

And, here’s another treat that’s even cooler - hand-cranked French vanilla ice cream. Stop by from 1 - 4 p.m. to help crank or just enjoy a free scoop. While the Museum and all its exhibits are open its regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 14, the ice cream will only be available in the afternoon from 1 - 4 p.m.

For more Bastille Day activities, click HERE.

Snapper's Brass & Gas Antique Cars 

AH-OOGA, AH-OOGA! Snapper's Brass & Gas club will be making a lunchtime stop in Castine on their summer mid-coast Maine tour. Club members will showcase their rescued and beautifully restored antique motorcars, manufactured before 1916, on the grounds of the Wilson Museum, from late morning to early afternoon on Wednesday, July 19. Come see the automobile in which Great Grandpa and Great Uncle Henry drove across America in the opening years of the twentieth century. A quiet glimpse into the adventurous past? Yes, indeed.

Snapper's Brass & Gas, formed in 1993, is a brass car touring region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, dedicated to the restoration, preservation and enjoyment of Brass Era automobiles. The club's activities emphasize the pleasure of old-time automobile touring in some of the most beautiful parts of the United States and Canada, away from the hustle and bustle of hectic modern living.

The display is free and open to the public.

The Proof is in the Pudding: How the Museum Profoundly Changed a Life

In 1988 Emil Dobrescu fled Romania for Hungary. Through a circuitous route that took him, among other places, to Greece for two years, he eventually landed in the U.S. at the University of Arizona. On Monday, July 24, hear Emil’s personal account of being a political refugee to becoming a United States citizen.

Emil Dobrescu studied linguistics and Native American anthropology at the University of Arizona with a passion for the Southern Athabaskan tribes. Prior to leaving Romania, his interest in Native Americans led to correspondences with several museums including the Wilson Museum’s Ellenore Doudiet. An avid learner and traveler, Emil lives and works in Kentucky.

This program is free and open to the public.

Phun Pholding Phyllo Cooking Class  

Are you looking for something fun and different to add to your cooking repertoire? We have the perfect addition - recipes using phyllo dough! Harry Kaiserian will present a workshop for adults, entitled Phun Pholding Phyllo on Tuesday, July 25 (3-6 p.m.), at the Hutchins Education Center in Castine. The workshop will explore basic cooking techniques with phyllo dough. Participants will take away, not only an understanding of all things phyllo, but a set of recipes for goodies such as spanakopita (Greek cheese pies), smoked salmon quiche, and an Armenian variation on baklava. This is a hands-on experience with tasty results.

Harry Kaiserian writes a cooking column for the three local newspapers and has published a cookbook entitled The Best of K’s Kwisine. Harry was raised in an Armenian kitchen where phyllo was a key ingredient. An educator by avocation, Harry has been teaching and demonstrating the art of cooking for over 20 years. He resides in Castine.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required for this free program.

Harry is also teaching an Asian Fusion cooking class on August 24.

Concert: Castine Town Band 

The picturesque grounds of the Wilson Museum on Perkins Street, on the shore of Castine Harbor, will be the location of an outdoor concert by the Castine Town Band, Friday, July 28, at 6 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy this free concert!

In the late nineteenth century Castine's Town Band was a proud contributor to patriotic events and summer evening entertainments. Revived in 1998 by a group of like-minded musicians, by 2004, the Band was recognized as one of the top four municipal bands in Maine. Membership in the Band is open to players of all ages and talent. It is a fine blend of locals, retirees and summer people who have a common interest - playing in the Town Band.

As an agent for connecting the past to the present, the Museum is proud to host this annual Castine Town Band concert.

In case of rain, concert will be at Emerson Hall, Court Street.

Painting Conservation Lecture and Assessment

Mona Lisa never washes her face - at least not with soap, water and a wash cloth. Her complexion relies upon the expertise of art conservators. The Wilson Museum relies upon the expert skills of The Maine Project for Fine Art Conservation (MEAC) in Portland, Maine, for the cleaning and conservation of artwork as needed. MEAC’s founding directors Domenico and Bonnie Mattozzi will be in Castine to give a lecture Saturday, July 29 at 2:30 p.m. in the Hutchins Education Center on Perkins Street. The couple will discuss the work they have done on Wilson Museum paintings followed by an opportunity for members of the audience to bring paintings and receive a surface assessment of the conservation needed on each piece. Assessments will be limited to two per person.

Domenico Mattozzi is a Professional Associate with The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works and has been involved in Fine Art Conservation since 1983. Bonnie Mattozzi is also a Professional Associate of The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works, a member of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and has been involved in Fine Art Conservation since 1986.

What's New about the New Stone Age? Life in Europe 8,000 to 4,000 Years Ago

What could be new about a time period which began about 8,000 years ago and lasted to about 4,000 years ago? To learn at least three answers to this question, come to the Wilson Museum in Castine on Thursday, August 3 (3 p.m.). At that time, Riva Berleant, who is currently rejuvenating the Wilson Museum’s exhibition on the Neolithic or New Stone Age of central Europe, will give a talk about her work. She will describe the new ways of human life that developed during the Neolithic and show artifacts from the Museum’s collection that represent that life. Dr. Berleant will also explain new understandings of Neolithic life, understandings that have expanded because of current methods in archaeology and modern applications of scientific knowledge. Finally, she will talk about the new permanent Neolithic exhibit at the Museum, a work in progress until 2018. The exhibit will illuminate Neolithic life in central Europe and show how J. Howard Wilson, the Museum’s founder, acquired the stunning collections from which the exhibit will be chosen.

Dr. Riva Berleant is a Professor of Anthropology (emerita) at the University of Connecticut. She has loved museums since her childhood activities at the Buffalo Museum of Science and her first museum job at the Nassau County Museum of Natural History in Long Island, NY. Dr. Berleant is working on her second exhibition for the Wilson Museum.

This program is open to the public and free of charge.

Civil War Encampment: 20th Maine, Company B

From Friday afternoon to Sunday noon, August 4 to August 6, experience the American Civil War at the Wilson Museum in Castine. During the weekend, a team of reenactors will eat, sleep, and live as though it's the 1860s recreating a 20th Maine, Company B campsite on the Museum's grounds overlooking Castine Harbor. The program will include drills, marches, and informal lectures.

The original Company B was mustered into the 20th Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry in August 1862. At Gettysburg, Company B was sent out as skirmishers by Colonel Chamberlain to protect the Regiment's exposed left flank and was instrumental in routing the fleeing Confederates. Company B was with the 20th Maine in all its battles including Battle of the Wilderness, Petersburg, and Appomattox.

Company B reenactors, a living history group dedicated to preserving the memory of Maine's Civil War volunteers, consists of men and women from all over the State of Maine. Their goal is to provide the public with activities that are enjoyable, educational and, above all, safe.

The program is free and open to the public. While the encampment will be set up from Friday at 2 p.m. through Sunday at noon, the Wilson Museum will maintain its regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 2 - 5 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday.

Collecting Castine 2017

Mark your calendar to attend Collecting Castine 2017, a special, one-night exhibit and sale of Castine fine art on Monday, August 7, from 5 - 7:30 p.m. held at the Hutchins Education Center. This is a fundraising event with a twist. By making a reservation with a donation of $125 per person, attendees will enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and an open bar, view an outstanding exhibit of original artwork created by living artists either from Castine or with a long association to Castine, have the opportunity to purchase an original piece of art, and (here's the twist) cast a vote for the People’s Choice work of art to be added to the Wilson Museum's collection. Following the People's Choice award, all other artwork will be available for purchase, silent auction style, with proceeds from the commissions and donations used to grow and care for the Wilson Museum's collection and the event.

This year the Collecting Castine event is dedicated to the memory of two renowned artists: sculptor Clark Fitz-Gerald (1917-2004), and his wife, fiber artist Elizabeth “Liddy” Fitz-Gerald (1927-2016). Clark Fitz-Gerald moved to Castine in the 1950s after teaching in St. Louis, Missouri, and in Beloit, Wisconsin. Having fallen in love with Maine in general, and Castine in particular, he decided to see if he could survive on his art in the place he found inspirational. He became one of Maine’s most successful sculptors, a master in wood, metal, and stone. Liddy Fitz-Gerald married Clark Fitz-Gerald in 1975. An artist in her own right, she studied art “before, during and after college.” While not as commercially well-known as her husband, she was a talented fiber and found-object artist who practiced her craft for decades. In 2014 her first gallery show opened highlighting her fiber-art wall hangings. These were mostly abstract and offered a glimpse into how she saw the world around her. Both husband and wife were active participants in the Castine community. The Wilson Museum is very pleased to honor them and their contributions to art.

Pictured above:
Upper: 2016 People's Choice winner Gregory Dunham with his wife Pat and Executive Director Patty Hutchins
Lower: 2017 People's Choice winner Joshua Adam with Executive Director Patty Hutchins

Outdoor Bake Oven Cooking

Baking bread in a hot oven on a hot summer day doesn’t sound very comfortable. But what if you could be outside enjoying the breeze while still getting your baking done? Overlooking the shore at the John Perkins House on the Wilson Museum campus that’s exactly the scenario. Director Patty Hutchins will offer two opportunities to see the newly constructed outdoor bake oven in action on Thursday, August 10 from 2 - 5 p.m. and again on Wednesday, September 20 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Learn about techniques and procedures used since colonial times to bake the daily bread without baking the cook as well. Outdoor cooking demonstrations are free of charge.

Better yet, plan on comparing both indoor and outdoor cooking by also attending an indoor fireside cooking demonstration on July 12, August 2 or August 16 (2 - 5 p.m.). Indoor fireside cooking demonstrations are part of a Perkins House guided tour with admission of $5 per person. Though fireside cooking are special days, the John Perkins House is open every Wednesday and Sunday (2 - 5 p.m.) in July and August for guided tours given on the hour - admission is $5 per person. 

Skins, Scat and Skulls

Calling all nature detectives. On Monday, August 14 at 2 p.m. at the Hutchins Education Center, Anita Smith will lead a fun hands-on program where participants will get a close-up look at a variety of real animal skins and replica skulls and scat. Make your own animal track plaster casts and play the game "Who's Scat is That?" So, the next time you take a walk on the wild side, you'll know who's neighborhood you're in.

Anita Smith, a retired elementary and middle school teacher, was recognized in 2002 by Project Learning Tree as one of five Outstanding Environmental Educators in the USA. She is a Maine Master Naturalist, Project Learning Tree steering committee member, and program developer/leader at China School's Forest, an outdoor classroom in China, Maine.

This program is best for ages 5 - 12 and space is limited to 12 participants. Call or email to sign-up at 207-326-9247 or info@wilsonmuseum.org.

Workshop Seeking New (or Little-Known) Primary Sources -

The American Revolution in a Contested Borderland: Penobscot Bay & Eastward

Surviving evidence from over 200 years ago about the Penobscot Bay region during the Revolution is limited to say the least. On Tuesday, August 15, take part in a free, day-long workshop that seeks to bring together aficionados of the time period with the goal of bringing to light new or little-known primary sources. Background reading materials will be provided via email prior to the workshop. The day will begin at 9 a.m. at Castine Historical Society for an informal visit to the Penobscot Expedition exhibit. At 10:15 the group will meet at the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center for a discussion facilitated by Professor Liam Riordan from the University of Maine. This is a great opportunity to direct your peers to any late-eighteenth century material about the Penobscot Bay region (as well as Downeast Maine and Nova Scotia, as interest allows) that you might know about in local historical societies and private papers. Lunch on your own will follow the discussion. There are local restaurants and sandwich shops nearby or feel free to bring a brown bag lunch and continue the exchange with colleagues. At 2 p.m. a walking tour about Castine in the Revolution will be led by the Castine Historical Society (meeting point to be announced).

To register for this free workshop and to receive a copy of the readings, contact Wilson Museum 207-326-9247 or email info@wilsonmuseum.org with “Aug 15 Workshop” in the subject line.

CEU credits are available for participating teachers on August 15 as well as a related event on September 9 - 10, 2017. For more information on CEUs contact Anette Ruppel Rodrigues at anette.rodrigues@maine.edu.

Magical Fairy House Workshop

The fairies are soon to return to the Wilson Museum for a summer visit and they will need some new “cottages” in which to stay. Maine Master Naturalist Anita Smith will also return to lead a Fairy House Workshop on August 15 from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on the Museum grounds. Like last year's workshop, all ages are welcome and should meet at the Hutchins Education Center where Anita will fill everyone in on fairy house construction and how to add that certain magic that every fairy is looking for in their summer retreat. Whether you're new at building fairy houses or you're a seasoned builder, plan on attending this event to welcome the fairy tourists back to Castine.

Anita Smith, a retired elementary and middle school teacher, was recognized in 2002 by Project Learning Tree as one of five Outstanding Environmental Educators in the USA. She is a Maine Master Naturalist, Project Learning Tree steering committee member, and program developer/leader at China School's Forest, an outdoor classroom in China, Maine.

This workshop is free and open to the public. Space is limited and registration is required by contacting 207-326-9247 or info@wilsonmuseum.org.

Native American Tales and Legends of the Night Sky

with John Bear Mitchell

Calling all star gazers and avid listeners to gather around the campfire Tuesday evening, August 15 (8 - 10 p.m.) near the Perkins House to hear Native American tales and legends of astronomy as told by John Bear Mitchell. See the night sky through the eyes of Mr. Mitchell's Wabanaki ancestors and you'll never look at the stars in the same way again!

John Bear Mitchell is a member of the Penobscot Nation on Indian Island. He serves as the Associate Director of the Wabanaki Center at the University of Maine in Orono and University of Maine Native Program Waiver Coordinator. He also teaches courses at the University. In the past he was the Native Studies teacher at the Indian Island School and also has served as a Maine Touring Artist delivering an Arts in Education program. While in college, he toured with the Native American Storytellers of New England. His singing and storytelling have been featured in many videos and documentaries, and he was also an advisor and participant in the PBS series Colonial House.

This event is free and open to the public.

Clothing the Past: A Weekend with Henry Cooke

Men’s fashion at the time of the American Revolution was very different than men’s fashion of today. Historian Henry Cooke will offer a weekend of workshops and a public lecture in mid-August, at the Hutchins Education Center. Here’s a great opportunity to learn some new skills and prepare to be authentically garbed for the Friends of Castine Fortifications Protected by the Crown events in September.

Afternoon Workshop:
The Art of the Tailor: An Exploration of 1770s Men’s Clothing and Construction
In the first workshop, Art of the Tailor, on Friday, August 18 from 1 to 5 p.m., participants will examine original 1770s garments from Mr. Cooke’s personal study collection, including coats, waistcoats, breeches, shirts, cloaks and great coats, to uncover the secrets of their construction. The registration fee for this workshop is $50 per person and attendance is limited to 10 participants.

Evening Lecture:
Soldiers, Sailors and Loyal Citizens All: The Dress of Castine during the British Occupation, 1779-1783
On Friday evening, August 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. Mr. Cooke will offer a lecture presentation on Castine clothing during the American Revolution era. When the British Army and Navy arrived in Castine in 1779, they added their unique attire to that of a port town filled with fishermen, ship builders, skilled tradespeople, as well as merchants and their genteel ladies. This lecture will draw upon historical records, period artwork and both original and reproduction garments to illustrate the distinguishing quality and style represented in Castine’s colorful community. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Two-Day Workshop:
Reconstructing the Past: Men’s Historic Coat Workshop
Reconstructing the Past workshop will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 19 & 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. In this intensive workshop, participants will create their own historically inspired coat using pre-purchased kits pre-cut to each participant’s measurements. Choose one from the following three coat kits: linen coat ($100), wool sailor’s jacket ($150), or wool coat ($160). Participants will learn the historic stitching, fitting and finishing techniques needed for successful construction of a coat. This workshop is limited to 15 participants and early registration is essential in order to have appropriately sized kits available. Registration fee for this two-day workshop is $75 plus the cost of the chosen coat kit.

Henry Cooke of Historical Costume Services has two degrees in American Social History with a focus on the ordinary people of the Revolutionary era. His interest in that time period found expression in living history as a founding member of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment, which he helped to found in 1977, and subsequently led for eighteen years. His research into the material culture of the past, particularly in the study and reproduction of historic costume, was born of practical necessity in order to have historical clothing for interpretation. This eventually evolved to become his current business, Historical Costume Services, which he operates out of his 1850s vintage home in Randolph, Massachusetts.

Creating Picturebooks Workshop

Here's a great way to share the photos from family parties, vacations, or genealogical research - make a picturebook! The Castine Woman's Club and the Wilson Museum are pleased to co-sponsor a workshop led by Marjorie Wheeler on Creating Picturebooks on Tuesday, August 22 (10 a.m.) in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. Bring your laptop, with a folder of 10 - 20 digital photos for creating your own picturebook, or just come to watch. Using internet sites such as shutterfly.com and snapfish.com, participants will learn helpful tips for making beautiful, sharable mementos.

Marjorie Wheeler is a retired teacher from Connecticut with degrees in Home Economics and Vocational Education. She is a member of the Castine Woman's Club as well as the Handweavers Guilds of America in both Connecticut and Rhode Island. She has self-published several personal picturebooks.

This program is free and open to the public.

Asian Fusion Cooking Class

Harry Kaiserian will present a workshop for adults, entitled Asian Fusion on Thursday, Aug 24 (3-6 p.m.), at the Hutchins Education Center in Castine. This workshop will explore food from China, Korea, and Japan. It is a hands-on learning experience and is designed to teach basic cooking techniques and recipe combinations. On the menu: velvet corn soup, bulgogi, beef and broccoli, vegetable lo mein, kimchi, fresh cucumber pickle, spinach salad, shu mai, and almond snow. Don’t know what some of these are? Join us and find out. You get to eat what you make.

Harry Kaiserian writes a cooking column for the three local newspapers and has published a cookbook entitled The Best of K’s Kwisine. An educator by avocation, Harry has been teaching and demonstrating the art of cooking for over 20 years. He resides in Castine.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required for this free program.

A Salt Water Town Welcome Tea

To kick off its new season, the Castine Woman’s Club invites you to a Welcome Tea and program Tuesday, September 5, at the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center. Plan to attend a short business meeting beginning at 12 noon followed by tea and refreshments in anticipation of a delightful 1 p.m. program by Don Small, author of Salt Water Town. As Don reads excerpts from his book, you will be introduced to some interesting, 1950s-vintage, Castine characters. Enjoy this journey back to what many consider a simpler time. The program and book signing are co-sponsored by the Castine Woman's Club and the Wilson Museum.

Growing up in Castine during the 1940s and 50s, Donald Small graduated from Castine High School along with four classmates. He studied engineering at the University of Maine and later retired from Maine Maritime Academy as Professor of Engineering. While his career was filled with technical writing, Don has enjoyed creative writing as a hobby for a number of years. Salt Water Town is his first published book.

This program is free and open to the public.

Photo by Kristin Clements

Danielle Rose Byrd, originally from Rumford ME and a 2005 graduate of College of the Atlantic, has been a member of the Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Hand Tool Event Staff since 2014, traveling the country teaching hand tool woodworking techniques. Her work has been shown at various galleries around the state and in 2012 was featured in Downeast Magazine’s Best of Maine issue. The author of several articles, Danielle also teaches bowl carving from her shop on MDI.

The meeting and program are both open to the public and free of charge. 

WILSON MUSEUM Open: May 27 - September 30 Weekdays 10 am - 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday 2 - 5 pm John Perkins House The Village Blacksmith Woodshop July - August, Wednesday & Sunday, 2 - 5 pm Group visits can be arranged by appointment. (207) 326-9247   info@wilsonmuseum.org Admission is free, except for the John Perkins House, where there are guided tours on the hour. Back to Top