Maine's Very Own Smithsonian Museum Is Just Begging To Be Visited
By Michelle|Published November 17, 2018
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Michelle
Author
Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
The land we walk on in Maine is sacred. It has been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years and the stories passed down go back further than can be recalled by most people. We exist on Wabanaki Nation land and it’s important to remember that heritage each and every time we step outside and appreciate the outdoors. A great place to understand more about the Wabanaki Nation is through the Abbe Museum, Maine’s only Smithsonian-affiliated museum.
There are four Maine Indian tribes that exist today – the Maliseet, Micmac, Penobscot and Passamaquoddy. Together they’re known as the Wabanaki, or “People of the Dawnland.” Each group has its own tribal government, schools and cultural center and they each oversee their own land and natural resources. While most of the Native population in Maine belongs to one of these federally recognized groups living on tribal lands, there are Native people living in towns across Vacationland.
The mission of The Abbe Museum is to inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nation every time someone walks through the doors.
It got its start in 1928, founded by Dr. Robert Abbe from New York City. For many years it was just a small trailside museum inside Acadia National Park, which was at the time called Lafayette National Park.
Dr. Abbe held a collection of early Native American pieces that he had found in nearby Frenchman Bay. In an effort to preserve and protect these objects, he asked others with their own collections to join him in sharing their pieces in this small museum.
Upon opening, this was the first institution to undertake archaeological research. This work has continued and today it's the main place to find archaeological collections from the midcoast.
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While the focus at the museum was initially on all thing archaeologic, eventually things expanded to include ethnographic materials dating from between the 17th and the 20th centuries.
One thing artifact you'll find a lot of is baskets. As a result of multiple donations, the Abbe Museum holds the largest and best documented collection of Maine Indian basketry.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the museum began more actively engaging the Native people of Maine, allowing for exhibits that specifically focused on members of the community. Today, members are involved in important policy decisions as members of the board.
One of the best program is Cultural Connections in the Park, which features demonstrations focused on Wabanaki ways of life. Past programs have included music at the top of Cadillac Mountain as well as an ash pounding demonstration, pictured here.
This summer also saw special programs teaching visitors about Wabanaki technology and inventions that allowed them to thrive in an environment like Maine.
