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

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

Fundraising Raffles
In an effort to raise money for our rebuilding efforts the Norlands is sponsoring several raffles. Click on each for more info.

Family Vacation Raffle with two prizes: 4 tickets to Saddleback and 4 tickets to a Portland Seadogs baseball game

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.