Civil War Reenactment
On September 12th and 13th, the Company A, 3rd Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry (thirdmaine.org) will be setting up a Civil War encampment on the grounds of the Norlands between the Mansion and the Library. This is a uniquely immersive and educational living history experience for all ages! Visitors will be able to interact with reenactors, witness a variety of demonstrations, and learn about the day-to-day lives of Civil War soldiers. The Norlands Mansion will be open for the entirety of both days for self-guided tours of our special limited-time America 250 exhibit in addition to Historian Talks about the Washburns in the Civil War. Enter into our Quilt Raffle for a chance to take home a beautiful handmade quilt on display in the Gift Shop. Food, drinks, and snacks will be for sale in our Farmer’s Cottage. Don’t miss your chance to learn about the lives of Civil War soldiers, life in the 19th century, and Maine’s Civil War history. See the event schedule below for more details.
Admission
General Admission is $5 per person (ages 4+) or $20 for a family of five
Mansion Admission is an additional $5 per person (ages 4+) or $20 for a family of five
Tickets are available online now until Friday, September 11th at 12am. We encourage you to buy tickets ahead of time but you can also purchase them on site the day-of.
Available Food
Hot Dog Meal $6 (includes hot dog and chips)
Chili Meal $5 (includes chili and corn bread)
Drinks and Cookies are sold separately
Saturday: Food sales open at 11:30am and close at 4:30pm Sunday: Food sales open at 11:30am and close at 2pm
EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday September 12th
9:00am – Camps Open to the General Public
9:15 am – Morning Infantry Assembly and Drill
9:30am – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
10:00am – U.S. Sanitary Commission Visits Camp
10:30am – Musket Firing Demonstrations; – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
11:00am – Demonstration on Butter Churning – Civilian Area
11:30am – Company Drill & Musket Firing Demonstrations; – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
12:30pm – Meet the Camp Laundress – Civilian Area
1:00pm – Bayonet Drill
1:30pm – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
2:00pm – Apple Cider Pressing – Civilian Area
2:30pm – U.S. Signal Corps Demonstration and Presentation; – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
3:00pm – Ladies Aid Society Making Quilts – Civilian Area
3:30pm – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
4:00pm – Skirmish Drill Demonstration
4:30pm – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
5:00pm – Camps Close to the General Public
Sunday September 13th
9:00am – Camps Open to the General Public
9:15am – Company and Battalion Drill
9:30am – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
10:00am – Making Popcorn on the Fire – Civilian Area
10:30am – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
10:45am – Musket Firing
11:30am – Kids Recruiting; – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
12:30pm – Discussion on the U.S. Sanitary Commission – Civilian Area
1:00pm – Musket Firing Demonstrations
1:30pm – Historian Talk: Mansion Dining Room
2:00pm – Camps Closed to the General Public
Ongoing Activities for Both Days:
- Civil War drumming demonstrations
- Civil War Surgeon’s talks
- Period Civilian’s talks and demonstrations
Plan Your Day
When you arrive at the Norlands, follow parking signs and the parking attendants’ directions. Make your way up to the Gift Shop to check-in or purchase tickets and grab an event schedule.
The Mansion exhibit will require a hand stamp in the Gift Shop which will grant you access for the entire day. Please note, the Mansion has a capacity limit, so there is a possibility that you will have to wait.
The 3rd Maine Regiment encampment can be found at the back of the house. Walk through the barn or follow the Mansion’s wrap-around piazza. Walking on the road is not recommended and is at your own risk.
Food will be available for purchase in the Farmer’s Cottage from 11:30am – 4:30pm on Saturday and 11:30am – 2pm on Sunday.
Enter in the Quilt Raffle for a chance to win the beautiful handmade quilt on display in the Gift Shop. Tickets are only available in person and are $2 for one ticket or $5 for four tickets. The winner will be drawn after this event is over. All proceeds go towards our Billie Gammon Scholarship which awards high school graduates who are pursuing college programs in history, agriculture, museum studies, and more.
We hope to see you there!
Living History Day Schedule – July 11, 2026
We have a full day of activity for the whole family planned at the Norlands this week. This week, you can even dress up like it is 1870!
July 11, 2026 at the Norlands
- Baking in the Farmer's Cottage 10:00, 12:45, 2:00 (30 min)
- School in 1876 - 10:45. 11:45, 1:15, 2:15 (30 min)
- Mansion & Exhibit Entry - Self Guided 10:15, 1:15, 3:15 (45 min)
- Mansion & Exhibit Guided Tour - 11:15, 2:15 (45 min)
- Learn to Knit / Crochet - 11:15, 1:45 (30 min)
- Ice Cream Making on the Porch - 3:15 (45 min)
- Stories of Old Livermore with Mercy Lovejoy 11:00am-3:00pm
- Civil War Encampment with Private Suttles 11:00am - 3:00pm
- Games on the Lawn - All Day
-
Visit the Animals - All Day
- Historian Talks - All Day (see below)
Historian Talks
- The Washburns' Busy Cradle 10:15, 12:15 (45 min)
- Livermore & the Revolutionary War 11:00, 2:00 (15 min)
- Washburns & Livermore in the Civil War 10:45, 1:45 (15 min)
- 19th Century Clothing 11:45, 2:45 (15 min)
Guide:
- Children's favorites at the Norlands (but bring the whole family)
- Good for older children and adults
- Deep dives into history - adults love these (but kids do too)
August Farm-to-Table Dinners
Emelia has teamed with Boothby Farms to create the ultimate gourmet burger meals. Our dinners are from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the barn, with pre-dinner tours available at 4:30pm. You can also make a full day of it by coming to Living History Days and relaxing on our porch before dinner.
Dinners are scheduled for August 15 & 22.
The Menu includes:
Charcuterie Board
Bruschetta on garlic toast
Garden salad with farmhouse vinegarette
Ultmate Burger Bar :
Boothby’s grass fed 1/3 pound burger
Homemade buns
Homegrown bacon
Homemade mayonnaise
All the fixings
Seasoned potato wedges
Herbed Coleslaw
Melt-in-your-mouth Blueberry Cake with vanilla ice cream
September Farm-to-Table Dinners
Apple Picking season is here and Emelia has picked a pork dinner for you! Our meals are from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the barn, with pre-dinner tours available at 4:30pm. You cn come early to relax on our porch before dinner.
The menu for the September 19 & 26 dinners includes:
Charcuterie Board
Sausage rolls
Garden salad with farmhouse vinegarette
Apple and onion braised pork
Mashed potatoes
Roasted carrots
Fresh baked yeast rolls
Apple dessert, TBD
July Farm-to-Table Dinners
We’re kicking off Farm-to-Table season with kabobs! Our meals are from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the barn, with pre-dinner tours available at 4:30pm. You can also make a full day of it by coming to Living History Days and relaxing on our porch before dinner.
Emelia’s menu for July 11 & 25 includes:
Charcuterie Board
Marinated cucumbers and cherry tomatoes with feta
Garden salad with farmhouse vinegarette
Mediterranean Chicken and vegetable kabobs (all veg kabobs as a vegetarian option, please make an option at purchase)
Orzo pasta with roasted red pepper salad
Artisan bread with olive oil dip
Seasonal fruit dessert TB
Strawberry Heritage Days June 27 & 28
Kick off your 4th of July week by joining us for an old-fashioned celebration of America’s 250th birthday at the Norlands Strawberry & Heritage Days June 27 & 28th. We’ll have a craft fair & demonstrations, a special America 250 exhibit in the Mansion, a patriotic day of School in 1876, games on the lawn, music, ice cream making, a full menu of picnic foods in the Farmer’s Cottage Kitchen, and, of course, Strawberry Shortcake. PLUS… we have OXEN visiting for the weekend – a Norlands tradition. Admissions to the grounds is FREE, with admissions to our exhibit in the Mansion and School in 1876 $5 each or a pre-order special of both for $8.
Hours: June 27 10am – 7pm
June 28 11am – 4pm
Click here for advance purchase of Mansion & School Tickets, Strawberry Shortcake and a full Picnic meal. Read carefully – there are a lot of options!
“The Washburns and Livermore: In Service to America” – special exhibit with rare treasures from the Norlands archive. This walk through history features some remarkable items even Norlands old-timers have never seen before! – $5
“School in 1876” – The schoolteacher is prepared to teach you about America’s first 100 years through reading, writing, penmanship, declamations and quizzes about the history of this great Republic. This is a great chance to show off your knowledge of 1876. Be sure to make your manners! –$5
Strawberry Shortcake $8
Picnic Meal $15 adults, $10 kids under 10 (add on Strawberry Shortcake for $5). Family packages available online.
Ice Cream Churning $5
Picnic Meal Options: BLT on homemade bread, Hummos & Grilled Vegetable Sandwich on homemade bread, Hot Dogs with the Fixings, Fox Farm Potato Chips, watermelon and a local beverage – Maine Roots Soda, Ricker Hill Sparkling Cider (non-alcoholic) and other sodas.
Fun Ways to Spend the Day!
Continental Army Camp – Enlist as a Livermore soldier in the Continental Army, learn to march like a real soldier and sing Yankee Doodle!
Stories in the Barn with Mercy Lovejoy – Hear entertaining stories of old Livermore from the town pauper, Mercy Lovejoy, interpreted by Willi Irish. 11am – 3pm Saturday
Dancing on the Lawn– learn classic 19th century dances with our expert instructors on Saturday
Games on the Lawn – Badminton, Croquet, Graces and more
Games on the Porch – Learn to play Euchre and Backgammon
Craft Show – Shop from our local artisans and bakers
Craft Demonstrations – See how our local artisans make their unique creations
See Oxen Demonstrations & Meet our Animals
Peek in the Library and the Meeting House
Hike on our Trails * Visit Bartlett Pond
June 27 at Noon: Presentation of the Colors, recognition of all Livermore Revolutionary War Veterans.
A highlight of the weekend is the America 250 Community Sing-Along Celebration in the Meeting House. We’ve got a great playlist of classic American patriotic songs to sing together and readings from important speeches and documents in U.S .History. What better way to kick off 4th of July week than packing our 1828 historic church for a non-commercial, fun and meaningful reminder of the reason for the 4th of July season! The services in 1876 and 1976 packed the Meeting House – let’s do it again!