Portland, Maine 04101 United States
- Tour available at 12:30 p.m., first Wednesday of the month, May–October 2025
- Registration required
- FREE for MHS Members, $10 General Admission
- In-Person
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Join Maine Historical Society for a guided tour of our exhibit Notorious with Collections Curator Tiffany Link.
Mainers have been fascinated with true crime throughout history, from the days of early American printing through the dawn of photojournalism. This exhibit allows guests to explore media sensationalism, public consumption, and the social impact of high-profile Maine crimes. Notorious examines the differences and commonalities across sensationalized crimes, how they captured the public’s imagination, and what contemporary media coverage tells us about perception and societal norms.
Visitors will explore different angles and perspectives of true crime reporting and media consumption through case study vignettes from over two and half centuries of Maine history ranging from responsible public information and community crime solving to perpetuating stereotypes and voyeuristic interest. Join us and reflect on what drives true crime consumption throughout history and today.
Our next tour in this series is on August 6. Each tours will focus on a different era featured in the exhibit:
- May 7: exhibit overview
- June 4: Crime in Early America (1690-1800)
- August 6: Crime in the time of Maine Statehood (1800-1850)
- September 3: Crime in the Victorian Era (1850-1900)
- October 1: Crime in the 20th Century (1900-1940)
About the presenter: Tiffany Link is Collections Curator at the Maine Historical Society. She is Co-Curator of the new exhibition Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye, 1690-1940 exploring the long history of “true crime” fascination and press sensationalism in the Pine Tree State. She joined the staff at MHS in 2013 as a Reference Librarian and later worked as the Research Librarian. She is the co-host of the podcast “Mainely History”.