Highest-rated museums in Maine by visitors

Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Maine on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#30. Bowdoin College Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.6/5 (207 reviews)
- City: Brunswick
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#29. Maine Mineral and Gem Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (76 reviews)
- City: Bethel
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#28. Maine Discovery Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (127 reviews)
- City: Bangor
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#27. the rock & art shop

- Rating: 4.7/5 (87 reviews)
- City: Bangor
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#26. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

- Rating: 4.7/5 (86 reviews)
- City: Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#25. Abacus

- Rating: 4.5/5 (257 reviews)
- City: Ogunquit
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#24. Tate House Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (67 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#23. International Cryptozoology Museum

- Rating: 3.4/5 (252 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#22. Little Village Gifts

- Rating: 4.8/5 (67 reviews)
- City: Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#21. Boothbay Railway Village

- Rating: 4.5/5 (257 reviews)
- City: Boothbay
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#20. Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (151 reviews)
- City: Brunswick
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#19. The Seal Cove Auto Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (231 reviews)
- City: Seal Cove
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#18. Maine State Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (300 reviews)
- City: Augusta
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#17. Abbe Museum

- Rating: 4.2/5 (360 reviews)
- City: Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#16. Maine Lighthouse Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (254 reviews)
- City: Rockland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#15. Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine

- Rating: 4.4/5 (242 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#14. Project Puffin Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (199 reviews)
- City: Rockland
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#13. Owls Head Transportation Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (430 reviews)
- City: Owls Head
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#12. Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (326 reviews)
- City: Port Clyde
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#11. Katahdin Cruises and Moosehead Marine Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (290 reviews)
- City: Greenville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#10. The Wadsworth-Longfellow House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (299 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#9. Ogunquit Museum of American Art

- Rating: 4.5/5 (503 reviews)
- City: Ogunquit
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#8. Cole Land Transportation Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (360 reviews)
- City: Bangor
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#7. Owls Head Lighthouse

- Rating: 4.5/5 (443 reviews)
- City: Owls Head
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#6. Farnsworth Art Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,011 reviews)
- City: Rockland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#5. Seashore Trolley Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (459 reviews)
- City: Kennebunkport Kennebunks
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#4. Maine Maritime Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (776 reviews)
- City: Bath
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#3. Portland Observatory

- Rating: 4.6/5 (545 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#2. Portland Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,586 reviews)
- City: Portland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#1. Victoria Mansion

- Rating: 4.5/5 (829 reviews)
- City: Portland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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