Welcome to the Wilson Museum Campus

Schedule of events

Building on the legacy of its founding family,
the Wilson Museum uses its diverse collections
and resources to provide learning experiences
to stimulate exploration of the history and cultures
of the Penobscot Bay region and world.

Be prepared for a tour through time and cultures as you enter the Wilson Museum Campus, a series of buildings begun in 1921 by geologist Dr. John Howard Wilson to house collections gathered around the world and close to home. Here you will see rocks and fossils from the earliest geologic times and will follow humankind's advances in tool-making from pre-history through Castine's rich local history. You can wend your way across continents and among indigenous cultures through displays from Africa, the Americas and Bali, to name just a few.

In the John Perkins House, step back in time to colonial Castine to meet the Perkins family and learn about the generations who lived here. A tour of this home is guided by a knowledgeable docent.

A step back in time would not be complete without a visit to the campus hub where craftsmen demonstrate the tools and techniques of their trades, including a woodturner and a blacksmith. Once you've been to The Village Blacksmith and seen what fire can create, take a peek into the Pump House Display to learn about Castine's early firefighting history. Push the button and watch in wonder as the gears and levers make the alarm bell ring!

There is so much to see here.  One visit is never enough and doesn’t have to be. Throughout the year look for special events and their details on the Museum’s Calendar of Events. Sign up for our e-newsletter HERE and follow us on .

Wilson Museum Institutional Information

Want to learn more Castine history? Download the Castine Walking Tour App by clicking on the "Take the Tour" image.

How to Find Us

Executive Director Transition/Search Update

The Board-appointed Transition/Search Committee is pleased to report that the search process for a new Executive Director is proceeding according to its projected timeline. Applications accepted until February 1, 2021, resulted in a large number of applicants who met the high expectations of the position announcement.

The Transition/Search Committee will conduct an intensive review of the most highly qualified, including zoom interviews with 5-7 of the most outstanding. By early April, the Committee anticipates selecting the finalists who will be invited for a campus visit/interview during June 2021. The Transition/Search Committee will invite a wide variety of available Wilson Museum stakeholders to meet with finalists for the Executive Director position and will include their assessments in the Committee's final deliberations and ultimate recommendation.

Following Board approval of the Committee's recommended candidate for the new Executive Director in July, appointment will begin as early as August of this year.

In addition to this significant step forward towards the Wilson Museum's future, the 2021 Wilson Museum season will be filled with many events and activities celebratory of our past. We invite the entire community to watch for announcements and to plan to participate in events throughout the spring and summer marking the 100th Anniversary of the Wilson Museum with special tributes to Patty Hutchins' 50 years of remarkable contributions to it, including a gala retirement celebration in September 2021.