Join Museum Director Tara Raiselis for a tour of the Saco Museum, a treasure trove of local history! Since its founding in 1866 (under its original name, York Institute), the stated purpose of the organization was "to promote the study of natural history; encourage science and art; and also to collect and preserve whatever relates to the natural and civic history of York County." Evolving over the years to meet the changing needs of the community, the museum's galleries are set up to allow revolving exhibitions showcasing the extraordinary collections, special interpretive exhibits, and work by contemporary Maine artists. Permanent exhibits include paintings, furnishings, and household objects with documented histories of ownership in the Saco valley in the 18th and 19th centuries. The second floor includes a room furnished to reflect a mill girl's boarding house bedroom from the 1840s. The museum also has a display of antique natural history specimens, including birds of New England.

Preregistration required as space is limited, registration closes at noon on 7/16.

Tara Vose Raiselis has served as Museum Director at Dyer Library & Saco Museum since 2012. She holds a BA & MA in History from Pennsylvania State University, and an ABD from the College of William and Mary, also in History. Prior to her time in Saco, she worked at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, NH, and served as curator of the History Media Center at the University of Delaware.

McArthur Library was originally a local church but became a public library in the early 1900s. Explore modern resources while touring this historic building. You can borrow a telescope from your local library, start studying your family tree there, and learn about Biddeford's past by looking through old images and newspapers. Additionally, libraries provide you at-home access to tens of thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and even movie streaming–all free of charge!

Preregistration required.

Nicole Clark, McArthur Library's Adult Services Supervisor, completed her online Masters of Library and Information Science through Simmons University. She is passionate about showing people all of the amazing resources that public libraries provide in the modern age, where they have transformed from simple book repositories to vibrant and engaging community hubs.