Calendar

 

Hands-On History Open House
Jun
29

Hands-On History Open House

Immerse yourself in history & culture

History comes to life when you can see it, hear it, touch it, taste it, and smell it. Try traditional hand tools in the wood shop, hear the ring of the anvil in the blacksmith shop, see Castine history up close on a tour of the Perkins House, enjoy the smell of a brown ash log as it gets prepared and made into a basket, and taste delicious bread fresh from our outdoor bake oven.

See below for more information, including about a floating open house offered by the Maine Seacoast Mission at the Castine town dock!

Wood Shop - Youth visitors can gain experience using traditional hand tools while building a toy boat in our wood shop. They’ll learn how a spokeshave interacts with wood grain, how to make a mast hole with a hand drill, and how a nail bends when it gets hit a little off center.

Blacksmith Shop - In the blacksmith shop, watch a friendly blacksmith shape metal into a hook, a nail, or whatever special project they’re working on! Find out how quickly metal cools when dipped in the quench bucket and what happens to stock when it gets a little too hot. When you hear the ring of the anvil, you’ll know you’re in the right place!

Perkins House - Imagine living as part of a family of 10 during the 18th century on a tour of the John & Pheobe Perkins House. How might you spend your days? What would you eat for dinner? And what happens when the British move in?

And More! - Enjoy special demonstrations of basket making and ash pounding, delicious bread from the outdoor bake oven, and a dinosaur egg hunt! Dino eggs will be hidden around campus for youth visitors to find throughout the open house (one per person) while supplies last. Where will they be? Only time will tell! Eggs can be taken home to hatch in warm water (approximately 8 hours per hatching). Before you go, snap a picture in front of our dinosaur footprint as an extra memento.

Plus a floating open house with Maine Seacoast Mission

In conjunction with our Hands-On History Open House, Maine Seacoast Mission will be at the Castine town dock from 1 to 5 pm for a floating open house aboard their 74-foot flagship vessel, Sunbeam!

Visitors are invited to come aboard Sunbeam and learn more about the Mission’s work in coastal Washington County and on outer, unbridged islands. During the tour, visitors can see the inner workings of a vessel which welcomes more than 1,000 people aboard each year for basic healthcare, meals, community gatherings, and more.

Mission programming via Sunbeam regularly provides support through counseling, education initiatives, and education services. In addition, a full-time nurse offers flu and Covid vaccination clinics, leads a network of eldercare facilities, provides healthcare check-ups, and connects residents to mainland specialists.

The Castine town dock is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Wilson Museum campus.

All Hands-On History activities are kid-friendly, open to the public, and free of charge.


 

Hands-On History at the Wilson Museum is made possible through the generous support of Camden National Bank.

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Castine Town Band Performance
Jul
18

Castine Town Band Performance

Bring a chair and enjoy the Castine Town Band’s free outdoor concert performed along the picturesque shores of Penobscot Bay. In case of rain, the performance will be held at Emerson Hall on Court Street.

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Artisan Market & Community Picnic
Aug
16

Artisan Market & Community Picnic

Artisan’s Market - Promoting and supporting today’s fine artisans and craftspeople on and around the Blue Hill Peninsula and beyond.

Community Picnic - A timeless, multi-sensory experience you can share with your friends and community members. Sample bread fresh from our bake oven while soaking in the beautiful view.

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Book Discussion - The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Sep
16

Book Discussion - The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize Winner
Winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction

A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family, and remain unsolved for nearly fifty years.

“A stunning debut about love, race, brutality, and the balm of forgiveness.” —People, A Best New Book

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Spoon Carving Workshop
Mar
23

Spoon Carving Workshop

A wooden spoon carving workshop with Troy Dickens of Castine’s Tilth & Timber. Includes instruction on safety techniques, use of simple hand tools, and a hands-on carving lesson to create your very own spoon.

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February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends
Feb
21

February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends

What makes a horseshoe crab a superhero? How does a beaver build her dam? How did the black bear become a constellation? Youth in grades K-4 are invited to join Miss Georgia and Miss Haley at the Wilson Museum for an exciting February Vacation Camp to find out!

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February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends
Feb
20

February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends

What makes a horseshoe crab a superhero? How does a beaver build her dam? How did the black bear become a constellation? Youth in grades K-4 are invited to join Miss Georgia and Miss Haley at the Wilson Museum for an exciting February Vacation Camp to find out!

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February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends
Feb
19

February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends

What makes a horseshoe crab a superhero? How does a beaver build her dam? How did the black bear become a constellation? Youth in grades K-4 are invited to join Miss Georgia and Miss Haley at the Wilson Museum for an exciting February Vacation Camp to find out!

View Event →
February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends
Feb
18

February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends

What makes a horseshoe crab a superhero? How does a beaver build her dam? How did the black bear become a constellation? Youth in grades K-4 are invited to join Miss Georgia and Miss Haley at the Wilson Museum for an exciting February Vacation Camp to find out!

View Event →
February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends
Feb
17

February Vacation Camp: Our Animal Friends

What makes a horseshoe crab a superhero? How does a beaver build her dam? How did the black bear become a constellation? Youth in grades K-4 are invited to join Miss Georgia and Miss Haley at the Wilson Museum for an exciting February Vacation Camp to find out!

View Event →
Wabanaki Traditional Stories
Sep
19

Wabanaki Traditional Stories

John Bear Mitchell will share traditional Wabanaki stories. These stories teach us about the way in which we hold ourselves in this world and energizes our ability to understand the ancient wisdom of our ancestors. These stories are timeless and have relevance to whatever space we hold.

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Hands-On History Days
Aug
28

Hands-On History Days

See, smell, touch, and hear history in action.

Immerse yourself in history, culture, and place during our Hands-On History Days. Offered every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon in July and August, this is a must-visit experience you’ll want to revisit year after year.

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Hands-On History Days
Aug
25

Hands-On History Days

See, smell, touch, and hear history in action.

Immerse yourself in history, culture, and place during our Hands-On History Days. Offered every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon in July and August, this is a must-visit experience you’ll want to revisit year after year.

View Event →
Artisan Market & Community Picnic
Aug
24

Artisan Market & Community Picnic

Artisan’s Market - Promoting and supporting today’s fine artisans and craftspeople on and around the Blue Hill Peninsula and beyond.

Community Picnic - A timeless, multi-sensory experience you can share with your friends and community members. Sample bread fresh from our bake oven while soaking in the beautiful view.

View Event →
Hands-On History Days
Aug
21

Hands-On History Days

See, smell, touch, and hear history in action.

Immerse yourself in history, culture, and place during our Hands-On History Days. Offered every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon in July and August, this is a must-visit experience you’ll want to revisit year after year.

View Event →