Cole Land Transportation Museum

10/21/2026

Veterans and families, join us November 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. for a free evening to connect, remember, and explore the museum, with a special viewing of the Bangor Historical Society’s historic copy of the Declaration of Independence.

10/19/2026

Attention Homeschool Families: 🚀 From Maine’s transportation history to the reaches of space, there’s plenty to discover together! We’re excited to partner with Challenger Learning Center of Maine for the Veterans of STEM Celebration on Tuesday, November 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., hosted entirely here at the Cole Land Transportation Museum.

Homeschool students and families will hear virtually from former NASA astronaut Bill Readdy and pioneering Navy test pilot Capt. Colleen Nevius, then connect with our local veteran volunteers, create Veterans Day cards, and explore the museum. It’s a chance to ask questions, hear remarkable stories, and meet people whose service and experiences bring history to life.

Admission is FREE, and activities are best suited for students in second grade and up. See Challenger’s original post for registration details. We look forward to welcoming you for a day of discovery, gratitude, and connection! See the Facebook Event link below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FDruusfNi/

Homeschool Series: Part 3: Veterans of STEM Celebration!

Our fall homeschool series with the Cole Land Transportation Museum continues! For Part 3, we’re doing things a little differently: students and families will get to hear from two extraordinary guests joining us virtually, then connect with local veterans and explore Maine’s history.

Meet our featured guests!

William “Bill” Readdy — Former NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy veteran, and test pilot who flew on three Space Shuttle missions!

Capt. Colleen Nevius — Trailblazing Navy pilot and the first woman to graduate from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School!

Bill and Capt. Nevius will join us virtually for a special interview, sharing stories from their careers and answering questions about aviation, military service, and space exploration.

And that’s just the beginning! After the interview, participants will have the chance to:
Meet and hear stories from local veteran volunteers
Create Veterans Day cards
Explore military artifacts and memorials
Discover the fascinating exhibits at the Cole Land Transportation Museum

Tuesday, November 3
9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Road, Bangor
FREE admission!

This special homeschool event is best suited for students in 2nd grade and up and is a great opportunity for the whole family to learn, ask questions, and connect with the people and stories behind our history.

Important: Unlike the first two events in our fall homeschool series, this event takes place entirely at the Cole Museum. There will be no separate stop at Challenger Learning Center of Maine, and our featured guests will join remotely via Zoom.

Learn more and register using the link in the comments!

10/16/2026

Some partnerships help build a museum in more ways than one! Dunbar & Brawn Construction has been part of the Cole Land Transportation Museum’s story for years, from renovating our offices to repairing exterior panels this season. This fall, we are excited to welcome them as the lead sponsor of our Halloween Party! We are grateful for their team’s care, expertise, and continued support of the museum and the families we welcome.

We’ll also have a sweet addition to the festivities: Darling’s Ice Cream for a Cause truck! Stop by for free, pre-packaged ice cream in exchange for voluntary donations. Thank you to Darling’s for bringing this community tradition to our Halloween celebration! https://www.darlings.com/community/darlings-ice-cream-for-a-cause.htm🍦

Join us on October 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. to Trick or Treat Through Transportation History. Come in costume and enjoy an evening of family fun at the museum. Admission is by donation! 🎃

10/15/2026

Dots, dashes, and a little friendly competition! Students at the Cole Land Transportation Museum are cracking Morse code messages and plotting their next move on our giant naval strategy game! Every decoded message brings a new opportunity to outsmart the other team while putting communication and problem-solving skills into action.

A big thank you to Hammond Lumber Company in Ellsworth for donating the materials that brought this idea to life! Their generosity helped us build a hands-on activity that makes learning about historic communication an adventure. We love seeing students / -.. .. ...- . / into the challenge, and we’re grateful to Hammond Lumber for helping make it possible!

10/08/2026

Pre-register and join us for an inspiring evening at Husson's Gracie Theater on November 20th! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-legacy-of-donn-fendler-perseverance-against-all-odds

10/02/2026

The painting is complete, and our helicopter is looking sharp once again! 🚁

If you’ve been following the progress, here’s the finished look! A big thank you to DaVinci Signs for their hard work giving this familiar landmark on our museum grounds a fresh coat of paint.

Caring for our outdoor displays helps us preserve the history they represent and honor those who served. We’re proud to see our Huey looking its best.

Stop by the Cole Land Transportation Museum to see the finished work up close!

09/30/2026

September gave us so much to celebrate! 🚗🎶

From families exploring the Transportation Festival to an evening of music and connections at Cheers & Gears, followed by a fantastic turnout for Coles Classic, it was a month of bringing our community together at the Cole Land Transportation Museum. Thank you to our visitors, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who helped make these events possible.

Next up: costumes, candy, and a little Halloween fun! 🎃

Join us October 27 from 4 to 7 PM for our Halloween Party and Trick or Treat Through Transportation History! Admission is by donation.

Gather your crew, plan your costumes, and make the museum part of your Halloween traditions!

09/24/2026

Another spin through Coles Classic! 🚙 Thanks to the car owners, visitors, and volunteers who made it a day to remember at the museum! More incredible work by Memorymaker Photography, on a beautiful day of cars and community.