Rich in detail, this museum recreates Maine's history and its environment. There are textile displays created by Maine's earliest native people, the Wabanakis. The back-to-nature exhibit provides a walk through the various seasons of Maine complete with stuffed animals and birds, man-made trees and live trout. There is an impressive three-story working mill as well as the latest artifacts excavated during 10 years of research on the colony's site in Phippsburg, Maine.
Built in 1754, Old Fort Western, located on the Kennebec River in Augusta, is America's oldest surviving wooden fort. The Fort was used mostly as a drop-off point for supplies shipped from Boston up the Kennebec River on route to Fort Halifax, located about 17 miles north of Maine. Old Fort Western was never directly attacked, although a soldier was captured in May, 1755, as he was attempting to deliver supplies to Fort Halifax. He was held in captivity for a few years and then exchanged in 1760. The main house and the storage supply of the fort will you a peek into the past with tools, barrels and supplies that were used during this time in history.
The Pine Tree State Arboretum located in Augusta, has 224 acres of woodlands, planted with over 300 varieties of trees and shrubs. Maps are provided to help you better navigate around the Arboretum. There are six miles of walking paths and trails, and you can choose a short and relatively gentle one or a more rugged woodland trail. Marsh birds, dragonflies and butterflies fly past as you make your way through the arboretum, and you can decide whether you want to visit the community forests, observe the native plants of Maine or view the extensive collection of hostas. Take a picnic lunch and just spend some time with your family relaxing under the heirloom apple trees.
This museum creates an interactive environment your children can thoroughly enjoy. It is set up like a village, and the children move from one building to another while all the time learning in a creative and fun way. Some of the activities that the children can be involved with are preparing lunch for themselves and their parents in the restaurant while learning the importance of cooking, proper hygiene and the correct way of speaking to wait staff and cashiers; working at a real grocery store where they learn about healthy eating habits and good nutrition; participating in the music area where each child is encouraged to try his hand at an instrument and in the theater where children can either play with the dress-up costumes or use their imagination and come up with their own play.
