Welcome to the Norlands

Join us for an exciting adventure into the past. At the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, we offer a variety of inter-active programs to enable our guests to experience life as it truly was in 18th and 19th century Maine. 

Norlands is the family home of the Washburns, one of the great political and industrial dynasties of the 19th century. Of the ten children born to Israel and Martha Washburn, seven sons rose to serve as governors, congressmen, a United States senator, Secretary of State, foreign ministers, a Civil War general, and a Navy captain. 

As industrialists, the brothers' achievements included founding of the Washburn-Crosby Gold Medal Flour Company, invention of a typewriter, and serving as president of a railroad. Today, Norlands is a multifaceted museum offering in-depth experiences in 18th and 19th century rural life. Here, the visitor is an active participant in daily and seasonal farming and housework, and becomes involved in the social, political and educational activities of the times. "When the long dun wolds are ribb'd with snow, And loud the Norland whirlwinds blow," From: THE BALLAD OF ORIANA, by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

Martha Washburn & Sons

Open by appointment for guided tours
Living History Tours will be back in 2010 by popular demand!

Next summer Washburn Norlands Living History Center will offer living history tours done by interpreters in period clothing portraying people of the neighborhood. In the school house you will learn first hand about rural education in 1853, the three R's. You can try using a quill pen or test your skills in mental arithemetic or spelling.

In the mansion house you can chat with the youngest Washburn, daughter Caroline as she shows you through the family home. She enjoys telling about her famous family and sharing family stories.

The Washburn kitchen is always a busy place. There might be cooking, ironing, playing games, an artifacts game, story telling, spinning, other neighbors dropping by or most anything else.

This is a guided tour in the buildings and self guided on the grounds. Go at your own pace, stay and visit where you wish. Bring a picnic lunch, we will provide the lawn, the picnic table and the beautiful setting.

Donations to help with our rebuilding efforts after the fire are most welcome. Donating through Network for for Good is secure and easy.

Now Accepting Reservations for School Programs: Journey into History (click here)

Return of the Textiles
When Molly Carlson approached Norlands the day after our fire to help with disaster recovery we could see the concern in her eyes. We didn't, at the time, see all the expertise she brought, we saw it as the recovery process unfolded and Molly provided invaluable guidance and suggestions for the process. As part of a Federal Disaster Recovery Team Molly's experience touched many facets of collections.

Read the complete story about our textile recovery.

Barn Rebuilding Plans At the Norlands' Annual Meeting, plans to build a replica of the barn built in 1867 at the Washburn's homestead, the Norlands, were unveiled.  Anyone who knows where a similarly constructed barn exists should contact norlands@norlands.org.  We are interested in viewing the joinery and historic construction methods."

Watch this website for future announcements about an old-time barn raising.  Many hands and talents of all kinds will be needed.