The Fifth Maine Museum was built in 1888 by the Civil War veterans of the Fifth Maine Regiment as a memorial and reunion hall. The iconic stained-glass windows that honor the regiment soldiers were also a fundraising scheme to defray the cost of the building. The veterans created a quiet, almost sacred space where they gathered, reminisced, and drew comfort from each other. In the 1950s, the building was given to the Peaks Island community. Since then, restoration work has brought the building back to its former glory. It is an architectural gem that is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the building houses the Fifth Maine Museum, which tells two intriguing and related stories: the history of Peaks Island from its days as “The Coney Island of Maine” to its role in World War II and beyond, as well as the story of the Fifth Maine Regiment during and after the Civil War.
Admission:
Our season runs from Memorial Day weekend through Indigenous Peoples weekend. In July and August, we are open daily from 10am-3pm. During the other months of the regular season, we are open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Mondays. We also open by appointment. If you’d like to visit the museum when we don’t have regular opening hours, please call 207.766.3330
$8/person, $20/family
Prescheduled schools/camps (April – October) $3/person
Members, kids under 14, and active duty service personnel and their families get in free!
To donate or learn about membership, visit our website.