Maine

explore like never before

Get Custom Travel guides packed with local tips
Experiences|Museums

Maine Has An Entire Museum Dedicated To Umbrella Covers And It’s As Awesome As You’d Think

The Umbrella Cover Museum on Peaks Island in Maine is a unique and humorous attraction celebrating the mundane.

Published Jan 6, 2022

Written by 

Michelle

Just one visit to Maine will prove that it's one of the most unique states in America! Of course, you'll find tons of beauty and natural attractions just about everywhere you look. But there's something extra-special about a state that inspires attractions such as the Umbrella Cover Museum on Peaks Island. This might not be something you'd seek out, but we assure you that it's worth both a visit and a trip through their virtual tour.

Peaks Island, located in Casco Bay just off of Portland, is one of the most beautiful places to explore for the day. It's accessible by boat as well as ferry through Casco Bay Lines.

alt
Umbrella Cover Museum / Facebook

There's a lot to love about the island, but one of our favorite attractions is the Umbrella Cover Museum, one of the most unique museums in Maine.

advertisement
alt
tektektek / TripAdvisor

The passion project of Nancy 3. Hoffman, the Umbrella Cover Museum is intended to be a celebration of the mundane.

alt
Umbrella Cover Museum / Facebook

The museum has been open since 1996 and it's been more than 20 years of simple appreciation ever since! If you're the type that finds humor in small things, sees joy in the everyday, and seeks to be thankful for as much as possible this is a must-visit!

alt
Umbrella Cover Museum / Facebook

Nancy got her start when she realized that she still owned every cover for every umbrella she'd ever purchased. Then, one day while in a store, she took an umbrella cover off of an umbrella. Not the umbrella. Just the cover. That's when she knew this was something of a passion.

alt
AlexanderD / TripAdvisor

A visit to the modest space on Peaks Island will reveal a curated collection of some of the most beautiful umbrella covers.

alt
Management / TripAdvisor

There's also quite a bit of history here!

advertisement
alt
Umbrella Cover Museum / Facebook

Visited by tourists and school groups throughout the Memorial Day to Labor Day season, this little museum is one of the most fantastic local attractions you can find!

alt
995Traveler47 / TripAdvisor

The Umbrella Cover Museum is open seasonally. Be sure to check their website to be sure they're open when you'd like to visit. You can learn all about the curated collection and its history by visiting the website. You can also follow the museum on Facebook. They can be reached at 207-939-0301.

Believe it or not, this isn't the only unique museum we've got! There's a bigfoot museum in Maine and it's full of fascinating oddities, artifacts, and more.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Experiences|Museums

With Toys Almost 100 Years Old, This Small Town Museum In Maine Is A True Hidden Gem

Published Aug 16, 2024

Written by 

Will Suphan

There’s something so intriguing and nostalgic about seeing toys from the past. Some of them we remember from our own childhoods and others we can only wonder about. We have a lot of old-fashioned, antique, and historic hidden gems in Maine, but Fawcett’s Art/Antiques Toy Museum in Waldoboro is a treasure trove of historic whimsy.

advertisement

The kinds of toys that children have been entertained with over the decades can be quite fascinating and even strange. At this intriguing museum, you’ll be able to see toys that date back nearly a century.

alt
Google Street View

The first Disney toys were manufactured way back in 1929 and it’s amazing how many iterations that characters like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse have gone through since then.

alt
Julie York/Google

Many folks still remember having a Mr. Potato Head (now simply called Potato Head) as a kid. Did you know there was also a Katie the Carrot and Pete the Pepper? I didn’t! It’s wild what we can discover at places like this.

alt
C B/Google

Marionettes were once quite popular toys. Some were cute and some were creepy, but children had fun bringing various characters to life with their own hands and creating imaginary adventures with them.

alt
Irene Liebler/TripAdvisor

Mr. Peanut has been an iconic character since it was created in 1916. It was created to advertise Planter’s Peanuts and many toys and figurines were made of it. It’s amazing how long some of these characters can last.

alt
C B/Google

Betty Boop first appeared in a Dave Fleischer cartoon in 1930 and became an extremely popular character. Dolls and figurines of many kinds were made in her image and the cartoon reruns ran for decades.

alt
Julie York/Google

I could spend most of a day exploring the toys, art, and comics of yesteryear. Rediscovering the toys some of us once had brings up forgotten childhood memories and, at the least, this is quite an engrossing museum.

advertisement
alt
Allen S./TripAdvisor

Have you ever been to Fawcett’s Art/Antiques Toy Museum in Waldoboro? Did you have any of the toys that were in the photos of this small-town museum in Maine? Let us know about your favorite childhood toys as well as hidden gems in Maine in the comments. If you’d like to see more historic places in Maine, take this road trip to check out some majestic castles:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maine/castle-road-trip-me/

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Experiences|Museums

There Are 4 Quirky Museums Hiding In The Small Town Of Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor offers a rich history and natural beauty, highlighted by its unique museums and scenic hiking paths.

Updated Apr 21, 2023

Written by 

Ben Jones

Bar Harbor is a small town with an amazing history and heritage that’s just waiting to be discovered. While the town is home to just 5,000 people, it has tons to offer in the way of attractions and nature. That includes four intriguing Bar Harbor museums that showcase everything from the town’s long history on Mount Desert Island to details of the region’s important natural significance. Read on to see why any visit to Bar Harbor should include a visit to the town's museums.

advertisement

1. Bar Harbor Historical Society Museum

alt
Facebook / Bar Harbor Historical Society

An incredible 41-room, 1902 mansion called La Rochelle today holds the collections of the Bar Harbor Historical Society. This is a fantastic place to visit if you're curious about early life in the area.

alt
Facebook / Bar Harbor Historical Society

The home is a well preserved treasure and its collections provide a ton of fascinating details about the town's early history. It's one of the best museums in Bar Harbor.

Read more about the Bar Harbor Historical Society.

2. Abbe Museum

alt
Facebook / Abbe Museum
alt
Facebook / Abbe Museum

This museum in the heart of Bar Harbor is dedicated to exploring the history and culture of Maine's Native people, the Wabanaki. The museum has a large number of interesting and important artifacts from prehistoric and historic times.

Start planning your visit and learn more about the Abbe Museum.

3. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

advertisement
alt
Facebook / George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

The interesting George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History is housed in the original headquarters of Acadia National Park. It features exhibits, programs, and activities about the natural world of our state. This is one of the most fun museums to explore in the state. If you like quirky museums in Maine, we're willing to bet you will like this one too.

4. Mount Desert Oceanarium

alt
Facebook / Mount Desert Oceanarium

The final museum in Bar Harbor on this list is a new property that opened in 2022. The Mount Desert Oceanarium is an organization dedicated to place-based education and conservation.

Museums are just a small part of what you can do in this town. Bar Harbor is one of the most scenic places in Maine - it's home to the largest parts of Acadia National Park and it's a place with a lot of stunning natural beauty. Once you have taken in Bar Harbor’s Museums, you might want to lace up your hiking shoes.

Here’s a scenic hiking path along the ocean that’s simply incredible.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Stays
Vacation Rentals

The Secluded Airbnb Cabin in Arkansas is the Perfect Place for a Digital Detox

by Melissa Mahoney
on Nov 5
alt
Nature
Hiking

Skip the Crowds: Explore Arkansas’ 5 Quietest Trails and Parks This Month

by Melanie Johnson
on Nov 5
Arkansas Sphinx Trail in Hagarville
Nature

Skip the Crowds: Explore Nevada’s 5 Quietest Trails and Parks This Month

by Melissa Mahoney
on Nov 5
alt
Stays
Vacation Rentals

The Secluded Airbnb Cabin in New Mexico is the Perfect Place for a Digital Detox

by Katie Lawrence
on Nov 5
alt
Nature
National & State Parks

The Completely Free Nature Center Hiding in an Oklahoma State Park Is a Must-Visit

by Melanie Johnson
on Nov 5
Tucker Tower Nature Center at Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore OK