The Brick Store Museum has been celebrating local history, art and culture since 1936.
Read on for more information about what’s ahead.
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Before coming to the Museum, please read our COVID-19 Guidelines as outlined on our Welcome Home area of our website. If you are excited and ready to visit the Museum in-person – welcome back!
If you would rather stay safe at home – we’ll be delivering content straight to you.
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Fundraiser: Visit the Museum via Robot!
Between “The Archaeology of Cape Porpoise,” “New Acquisitions,” and “The Art of Mending” this summer, we’ve got some great exhibits – not to mention programs! – coming up.
What if you could visit the Museum via robot?
During the pandemic and afterward, accessibility to history, art and culture is the keystone to the Museum’s mission.
Imagine being able to explore the Museum from the safety of your own home. Now, you can – we just need your help to get there.
We’re raising $4,000 this winter to be one of the first museums in New England to use robot technology to expand access to our facility.
Can you help us?
Learn more about the robot and contribute via the link below!
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Last Chance for Community Survey!
The beginning of 2021 makes official the fact that we are now into the next decade of our shared march toward the future.
With that comes many ideas, plans, and hopes.
We’ll be sharing the theme of the Museum’s work in 2021 in a moment, but first, we need your help to go much further than that.
One of the Board of Trustees’ most important jobs is to ensure the Museum’s continued value in our community. To help accomplish this, we are asking for your input via a short survey, linked below.
We will be using your answers to help guide our Strategic Plan 2021-2026. Please take a few minutes to tell us your opinions and help the Museum serve our community.
Please respond by January 31, 2021.
Photo by Tina Radel, via Town of Kennebunk Instagram 2020.
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Opening February 2:
Cape Porpoise: Archaeology in the Archipelago
Explore 8,000 years of artifacts uncovered during recent archaeological investigations conducted by the Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance (CPAA). Learn about Indigenous stone tool technology and the science of archaeology, with a highlight of the exhibit being the remains of the oldest dugout canoe ever found in the Wabanaki homeland of the Far Northeast, first identified in 2018 and painstakingly excavated in the summer of 2019 by CPAA. Carbon dating places the canoe between 1280-1380 C.E.
CPAA was formed in 2016 to conduct scientific archaeological research on the islands and intertidal zone of the Cape Porpoise Archipelago. CPAA is a collaboration between the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and the Brick Store Museum, in which a team of professional archaeologists works with citizen scientists to conduct archaeological surveys and excavations. Over several seasons, a variety of objects have been uncovered from Wabanaki stone tools to early Euroamerican pipe stems, revealing histories of culture and colonization in southern Maine.
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Recent Acquisitions: New Artifacts from the Museum’s Collections
The Museum welcomes more than 100 new artifacts and pieces of archival material every year, through donations by community members who have chosen to share their history with the entire region.
Highlighting the “Year of Stories” theme, this exhibit shows off the eclectic mix of artifacts that are now included in the Museum’s collection, showing off new stories, experiences and perspectives of local people. Pieces include 19th century portraits, mid-century Kennebunk High School memorabilia, a gigantic American Flag, 19th century fishing equipment, local hotel menus, and mid-century modern clothing.
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Free February Will Use Reservation System
PLEASE NOTE: The Museum will continue use of our Advanced Reservation System (via Eventbrite) to limit the number of visitors inside the Museum at a time. Please use this reservation system (found on the front page of www.brickstoremuseum.org) to reserve free tickets to attend the Museum’s new exhibitions starting February 2nd.
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NOW:
2021: The Year of Stories
The Museum declares 2021 “The Year of Stories.”
The Museum has always been the place to share stories. Whether through history, art, storytelling, and cultural events, we tell stories of the people who lived (and continue to live!) here. This year, we’re placing special focus on those stories and the various ways we can tell them.
Throughout the year, we will be presenting programs, recording oral histories (so if you hear from us – please take part!), and celebrating our community through events that highlight people (past and present) and experiences.
We’re also investing time and resources into uncovering stories that were buried, lost, or never told.
To kick off our Year of Stories, we have partnered with the Maine Humanities Council to create a Discussion Project using historic letters from the Museum’s Archives to talk openly about how mental health affects all of us. Register below!
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Saturday, February 13:
Dinner and a Show!
“Dear Sarah” Play & Valentine’s Dinner
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Museum will present its original play, “Dear Sarah,” virtually, to be paired with a catered to-go meal (menu selections below) on Saturday, February 13. Participants have the option to access the play only (for $5) or purchase a meal or special Valentine’s treat.
The play will premiere at 6:30pm; dinner pick-up is from 3-5pm on February 13.
“Dear Sarah” brings to life the relationship of Captain Charles Barry and his wife, Sarah Lord, between 1847 and 1851. The play consists of Captain Barry’s letters, housed in the Museum’s archives, which illustrate life at sea and the bonds of marriage in the mid-19th century.
Tickets for the virtual play (participants receive an emailed link to the video) are $5 per person.
To-Go Dinner: $30 for Members, $35 for Non-Members
- Menu choices:
- Beef Wellington with roasted potatoes and asparagus
- Butternut Squash Ravioli over steamed spinach
- Chicken Marsala with baby bella mushrooms over linguine
- All served with – Fresh Rolls & Butter, Chocolate Mousse with a Port Wine Sauce & Fresh Berries
Add-Ons: Valentine’s Gift Packages!
- The Romantic:
- Rose (courtesy of Fleurant), chocolates, historic Valentine card and complimentary quarter-bottle of Champagne
- The Sweet Tooth:
- Chocolates in a BSM Coffee Mug
- The History Lover:
- “Dear Sarah,” book by Norman E. Borden, Jr., historic Valentine card
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I Can Sympathize with You in the Feeling: Exploring Mental Health through Historic Writings
Starting February 24!
To kick off our Year of Stories, we have partnered with the Maine Humanities Council to create a Discussion Project using historic letters from the Museum’s Archives to talk openly about how mental health affects all of us.
The program will run over three nights, one Wednesday a month, from February through April, via Zoom. This special program, unique in its perspective, will be facilitated by Dr. Libby Bischof and Kartika Wright.
Dates: 2/24, 3/24, 4/21
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
The Maine Humanities Council will send you all the reading materials that you need, which will include copies of archival letters/diaries and a companion text.
Participation is FREE, but limited to 15 people. You can register by calling the Museum at (207)985-4802 or emailing Cynthia Walker at cwalker@brickstoremuseum.org.
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Explore the Digital Learning Center!
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Visit the Online Museum Store!
Don’t miss unique, local items for sale through the Museum’s Mercantile! Local history books, artwork, cards, toys, soaps, candles and more are waiting for you here at the online store!
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