WRITTEN BY ANNE GABBIANELLI
M
useums are memory vaults which offer great opportunities for exploration. Many repositories are tucked away within the halls of municipal government buildings, historical societies, and even malls.
That is the case with the new Children’s Museum in Aroostook County. Run by a handful of volunteers, the museum is housed in the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle.
“We’re a bridge between education and industry,” said board member Elise Browning. “It’s been a year and we have a way to go with a path and a plan all in hopes to expose children to various industries, have them pursue their education and return to Aroostook County for their career. We encourage local industries to become part of the museum. For example, there is a dental office with tools, a chair and X-ray vest where the younger ages get to role play. The museum boasts self-discovery.”
While the Children’s Museum in Presque Isle invites children to look to the future, the Caribou Historical Center & Whittier Museum offers a look at life in the past. Board President Christina Kane-Gibson said the museum is courtesy of Mericos Whittier, a native of Caribou who left in 1891 at the age of 25. Through his County work ethic and diligence, Whittier became a multimillionaire.
“The Whittier Center was a gift from the family as a memorial to a great man from humble beginnings in Caribou, Maine who achieved much in his life,” Kane-Gibson said.
The variety of exhibits and artifacts sourced from local donors feature early medicine in Caribou, a military exhibit, old-time churches exhibit, vintage home artifacts and more.
“The barn houses early farming implements and tools, lumber display, our covered wagon, sleighs and much more, and we have a replica schoolhouse with relevant artifacts of early school days,” Kane-Gibson said.
She added that since the museum’s beginning in the late 1980s, the passion remains strong. “To remember our roots and the hard work of the people who came before us — the ones who built this community. Our ancestors met many challenges and made many sacrifices to make Caribou the community it is today. Caribou truly is a unique place and we like to think we make a contribution to that uniqueness.”
Nothing can be more unique than The Nylander Museum, run by the Caribou Public Library and located in its own building on Main Street. The self-taught naturalist, geologist, and botanist, Olof Nylander, was a field collector with the U.S. Geological Survey and a field researcher for the Canadian Government. His discoveries altered theories about the ancient past of northern Maine and other regions in the U.S. and Canada and caught attention world-wide.
The Swedish born pioneer was drawn to northern Maine in the late 1800s for the area’s natural history and in 1939 he founded the museum. Upon his death in 1943, his collection was donated to the city. Throughout the years, various museums, including the Smithsonian and the National Museum of Canada, have had great interest in acquiring all or part of the original Nylander collection, but the collection still calls Caribou home.
Peter Baldwin, library director, said, “Because the 21st century museum is interactive as well as historical, we are meeting kids at their levels, so we have themed programs that are interactive. Not only do we have almost an entire geological history of Aroostook County, we also boast a wax statue of the collector himself.” more. When you read the list of battles that the Second Maine participated in, you see how they were involved in some of the most intense fighting in the Civil War,” Bishop said.
The Nylander Museum has limited and varied hours, so calling (207) 493-5923 is suggested.
