Founded:
The Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum of Houlton was founded by Ransford W. Shaw in 1938.
Mission:
The Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and artistic heritage of Aroostook County's shire town and surrounding area.
Collections:
The Ricker room preserves artifacts, photographs and documents from the Ricker Classical Institute (1848-1967) and Ricker College (195 -1978). Yearbooks, mementos, pennants, and other items refresh the memories of former students.
The military room displays items from from the Aroostook War, the Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars I & II and the Korean War. Displays include an antique gun collection, flags from several wars, uniforms, and artifacts from the Houlton Barracks (1837-1852) including musket balls, water bucket and a copy of a day book.
The Sarah Houlton Kitchen displays kitchen utensils representing about a hundred years of food preparation with artifacts dating from the early 19th to early 20th centuries. There are butter making supplies, an early toaster, spice containers, as well as the variety of expected pots and pans. While many of the types of artifacts on display are still in use today, some items' functions defy identification.
The E. B. White Collection, is a collection of photographs by (Edward) E. B. White and other photographers taken between 1885 and 1920. This collection commemorates the efforts of local amateur and professional photographers to preserve images of turn-of-the-century Aroostook County.
The Houlton Prisoner-of-War Camp Collection has paintings and artifacts made by the prisoners and photographs of the prisoners working in the potato fields.
Facilities:
The White Memorial Building, 109 Main St., Houlton, is the home of the Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum.
It is a 1903 Colonial Revival building that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Open Tuesday through Friday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Memorial Day through Labor Day
or, by appointment: 207-532-6687, 207-532-6236