Beyond the Postcard: Stories of the Maine Experience

Exhibit

Opening in 2026

Maine State Museum

Go Beyond the Postcard

Greeting visitors the moment they step through the museum’s entrance, Beyond the Postcard explores wide-ranging stories of historical and contemporary Maine people.

Some of the People You’ll Meet

These previously untold and lesser-known stories, seen through objects, photographs, and documents, will encourage visitors to see a Maine beyond stereotypes and look instead at the rich, diverse lives that have shaped our state’s character.

Cornelia Thurza ‘Fly Rod’ Crosby

First registered Maine Guide and promoter of Maine’s outdoors

Dwayne Tomah

Passamaquoddy teacher; culture and language keeper

Photo courtesy of Colby College.

William Wilberforce Ruby

African American Army private who served in the Spanish-American War and experienced life in the Jim Crow South

Some of the Museum Collections You’ll See

Featured collections items include a portion of the hull of the 1890 “Downeaster” St. Mary, the 1920s Lombard Log Hauler, and the 1960s Ski-Doo snowmobile, plus many rarely seen objects that will offer visitors a chance to explore the museum’s collections.

St. Mary

This image shows the Downeaster ship St. Mary docked at New York Harbor, just before departing on her failed maiden voyage in 1890. The St. Mary was one of the last full-rigged wooden ships built in Phippsburg, Maine, and the museum displays a 40-foot section of the St. Mary‘s hull and decking.

Photo courtesy of the Maine Maritime Museum.

Lombard Log Hauler

The museum’s Lombard Auto Tractor-Truck was invented by Alvin O. Lombard and manufactured at the Lombard Tractor & Truck Corporation in Waterville, Maine, in 1925.

Renovation of the Lombard Log Hauler display was made possible by generous support from the Bill and Joan Alfond Family Foundation.

Ski-Doo Snowmobile

This 1960s Ski-Doo snowmobile was purchased by Edward Leary of Augusta, Maine, in 1966, before the State of Maine even required registration of snow vehicles. When registration was mandated in 1968, Mr. Leary’s snowmobile was the very first registered snowmobile in Maine.

Mike Taylor photo.