Maine Military Museum
  Location within Maine | |
| Location | South Portland, Maine, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°37′43″N 70°17′14″W / 43.62853704905771°N 70.28727289013094°W |
| Type | Military museum |
| Curator | Lee Humiston (2009–2026) |
| Website | mainemilitarymuseum |
The Maine Military Museum is a military museum located in South Portland, Maine, United States. The museum includes collections of uniforms, weapons, models, photos, and memorabilia.[1] It has been noted as a museum of special interest by Visit Maine[1] and has been called "one of Maine's hidden treasures" by Maine Public.[2]
History and artifacts
[edit]The Maine Military Museum was founded in 2009.[3] According to Enid Burns of Recoil, it began as curator Lee Humiston's personal collection.[4] The museum seeks to teach the motto "service above self" and pay tribute to Veterans. It features a special commemoration for prisoners of war and Maine's military history. It is also dedicated to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians in South Portland. The museum actively seeks souvenirs from any war and routinely changes displays.[5]
According to Troy R. Bennett of Bangor Daily News, the museum features "medals, model battleships and overseas souvenirs from countless American deployments", and added that "Dozens of life-sized mannequins with authentic military helmets and uniforms populate every exhibit. Vintage framed newspapers scream wartime headlines of victory and defeat. The walls bristle with swords and firearms".[6]
Much of the museum's collection is fully authentic, including firearms dating back to the Revolutionary War.[4] All of the artifacts and uniforms in the museum were donated by veterans and their families.[4][7]
On April 15, 2026, the museum's curator, Lee Humiston, died of throat cancer at the age of 86.[8][9][10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Special Interest Museums". Visit Maine. June 7, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ "In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War: "Vietnam History of Occupation, Warfare, and US Involvement"". Maine Public. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Dirigo Stories: Curator Breathes Life into Maine Military Museum". WGME. December 7, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Burns, Enid (May 22, 2023). "[VIST] Maine Military Museum and Learning Center". Recoil. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Memories Revived at Maine Military Museum". Portsmouth Herald. September 21, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ Bennett, Troy R. (June 6, 2024). "102-Year-Old Maine Veteran Who Just Missed D-Day Is Still Telling War Stories". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Maine Military Museum Pays Tribute to Those Who've Served". WGME. November 11, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ Fox, Cooper (April 16, 2026). "Maine Military Museum Founder Lee Humiston Passes Away At 86". B98.5. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ Bartow, Adam (April 16, 2026). "Lee Humiston, Veteran and Founder of the Maine Military Museum, Has Died". WMTW. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ↑ "In His Own Words: Lee Humiston Explains the Stories Contained Within the Maine Military Museum". Yahoo News. April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.