Welcome to the Wilson Museum Campus

Executive Director Position Announcement

100th Anniversary Online Auction
NOW LIVE!

Treat of the Week: Each Week in October Online Auction: November 1 - 10

As you've recently heard, the Wilson Museum will be turning 100 years old next year! In anticipation of an amazing season full of celebratory fun, the Board of Trustees and staff are holding an online auction from November 1 - 10. An array of items including handcrafted art pieces, local services, and experiences have been donated by Museum board members, staff, and friends, all in support of the Museum's Centennial milestone.

To get the auction started, each week in October a special Patty's Treat of the Week auction for baked goods made to order will be held. (Anyone who has experienced Patty's baking will know this is an opportunity not to miss!) As October 1 is coming right up, be sure to register to bid and check out the amazing array of items in the auction catalog. The assortment of items will continue to grow until November 1, so check back often!

Delivery Details: The auction is open to Museum lovers near and wide. To local winners, pick-up or delivery can be arranged with the Museum staff after the auction. For those who would like their items shipped, a shipping charge will be added.

Click here to visit the auction home page.

Thank you for supporting the Wilson Museum, and remember to bid high and bid often!

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 and on special days visitors may have the opportunity to watch cooking done over the open hearth in the kitchen.

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 .

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Executive Director Position Announcement

The Board of Trustees of the Wilson Museum, Castine Maine invites inquiries for the position of Executive Director. We are commencing the search early (appointment will begin September 2021) because the appointee must possess the vision and ability to maintain the Museum's traditions while building for the future.

The Museum uses its eclectic natural and cultural collections to provide programs in local history, traditional technologies, world cultures and prehistory for multi-generational audiences. We attempt to provide individualized visitor experiences, with no single pathway to the Museum's resources. A personal connection to the Wilson Museum is encouraged by interactions with staff or through Living History re-enactments. Many of our exhibits emphasize the relationship of individuals and families to collections and research. Visitors are always received as “guests” with hospitality expressed through courteous and knowledgeable docents, and often with offers of food or drink, frequently derived from living history demonstrations.

In addition to embracing these traditions, the new Executive Director must have the ability to maintain the Museum's strong connection to the local community and extend these to similar organizations and a broader regional community of stakeholders.

The Executive Director reports to the Board and works with it to provide strategic planning , maintain sound financial status, staffing, facilities, programs and collections. The Director manages a staff of 5 FTE, including year-round and seasonal employees as well as volunteers. In addition to providing long-range visioning, immediate projects for the incoming Executive Director would include completion of archival storage and implementation of a future endowed internship position.

Qualifications: A minimum of 2 years administrative experience that includes personnel management; training or experience in education; and familiarity with culture and history of coastal New England. A graduate degree is strongly preferred.

Salary and Benefits: A base salary of $70,000 in addition to medical, retirement, and professional development benefits are offered.

Applications for the position will be accepted from September 2020 - February 1, 2021, with the appointment commencing October 1, 2021.