Belfast Historical Society and Museum

Name: Belfast Historical Society and Museum
Address: 10 Market Street, Belfast, ME, 04915, US
Telephone: (207) 338-9229
Price range: $$

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Belfast Historical Society and Museum

Enjoy exciting exhibits that tell the story of Belfast. Learn about Belfast's maritime heritage. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Admission.

The Belfast Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to the collection, conservation, preservation and interpretation of documents, photographs and other artifacts relevant to Belfast history. The Society and Museum, by means of museum exhibits, lectures and other presentations, promotes the intellectual and cultural life of Belfast, and informs and educates the Belfast community and visitors about its distinguished heritage.

06/19/2026

June 21, 2026 marks the 253rd anniversary of the
incorporation of Belfast as a town.
Belfast was first settled in 1770 and after a few years, it
became necessary to adopt an organized system of town
government.
A petition for incorporation was drawn up, signed and
delivered to the regular session of the General Court, held in
Boston. The settlers wrote, “Your petitioners humbly pray your Excellency and Honors to Incorporate the Premises into a township by the name of Belfast.”
In the original act passed by the court on June 21, 1773, the name was left blank. After adoption the name was added to the printed copy. Legend has it James Miller, one of the early settlers, suggested the name of his birthplace in Ireland - Belfast. Other proprietors preferred Londonderry, and legend has it the dispute was settled by tossing a penny.
Belfast was the first town on Penobscot Bay to incorporate.

Eighty years later, in March 1853, the town was divided into five wards and reorganized under a city charter. The new city government was formally inaugurated on March 21, 1853. 2026 marks the 173rd year for the City of Belfast.

06/18/2026

Revolutionary Belfast, Celebrating America's 250th anniversary with a summer of events sponsored by the Belfast Free Library. Here is the link to library sponsored programs and events. https://belfastlibrary.org/series/revolutionary-belfast/

06/15/2026

“Bits of Belfast History” is the topic for the Belfast Historical Society meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday June 22, in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library. Sam Fuller, of Stockton Springs, collector of Maine bottles, stoneware and exonumia, will present Belfast related items from his vast collection of medicinal bottles, fraternal badges and pins, novelties, and commercial advertising collectibles. Many of his collected Belfast bits have come from local flea markets. Sam’s extensive knowledge will both educate and entertain.
The Belfast Historical Society presents talks of local historical interest on the 4th Monday of the month from April through October. All presentations are at 7:00pm in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library and are open to the public. Seating is limited to 75. FMI visit BelfastMuseum.org or call 207 338-9229. These programs will be recorded and can be viewed on Belfast Community Television and on the museum website.

06/14/2026

Today, June 14, 2026 is Flag Day. This article dates from June 7, 1917: Here is a photo and caption "Southern Women Weave Old Glory For Sons." They are showing their loyalty to the Union by making a star spangled banner to be presented to the first Georgia regiment to be sent to France.

06/13/2026

A few advertisements from June 1915.Time to get ready for summer!

06/11/2026

Effective Spring 2026
The Belfast Museum is closed. We are embarking on an exciting expansion- one that will deepen our ability to celebrate and share the rich history of Belfast for future generations. We look forward to reopening with an improved experience for all our visitors! Visit BelfastMuseum.org for museum updates, program schedules, articles of historic interest. Our public programs held at the Belfast Free Library continue , check our website for the monthly program schedule.

06/10/2026

Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth was in Belfast on Friday June 14, 1878. Barnum's circus included a museum filled with curiosities, interesting and valuable and a menagerie which included novelties from around the world. There were two shows scheduled for that day. The circus arrived here on three trains, numbering in all 54 cars. They arrived in the early hours on Friday. Included in the show was "Barnum's Giant" who stood eight feet tall and weighed 625 pounds.

06/07/2026

In June 1950, Life magazine was in Belfast to shoot a piece about the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. Among the photos taken were these showing the burning of the mortgage papers on the diesel-electric locomotives. When North Korean troops invaded South Korea that month, the article never ran. The Belfast Museum has these and others taken by Life.

06/05/2026

On June 5, 1920 a four-ton truck carrying movie films to Bar Harbor went through the drawbridge on the wooden lower bridge over the harbor. This bridge was already on schedule to be replaced and three days after the collapse, 40 workmen and ten railroad cars full of equipment arrived to begin construction of the new concrete and granite bridge. But first, the truck had to be removed. The driver and passenger had jumped to safety. Belfast photographer, M. A. Cook was on hand to record the disaster.

06/03/2026

Someone was feeling nostalgic about the Governor Anderson School playground. 1999 and it was a good community project and appreciated by many.

Address

10 Market Street
Belfast, ME
04915

Telephone

(207) 338-9229

Website

http://www.belfastmuseum.org/

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