The Norlands is a multi-faceted living history museum and working farm offering in-depth experiences in 19th-century rural Maine life. It is also the ancestral home of Livermore’s Washburn family, one of America’s great political and industrial families of the 19th century.
During summer living history tours, the 1867 Washburn mansion with its attached farmer’s cottage and the 1853 one-room schoolhouse are open. In each building visitors meet a historical character of the Norlands’ neighborhood, perhaps a Washburn or a local person, someone you might have met had you visited Norlands in the 1800s.
In the one-room schoolhouse, you can become a scholar of 1853 and try your hand at writing with a quill pen or test your skills with mental arithmetic or recitation. In the mansion, you can take a guided tour with a Washburn grandson or daughter as s/he talks about the remarkable achievements of one generation of the Washburn family. In the farmer’s cottage, you can help with the washing, piecing, or baking and play a mystery artifact game.
A Living History Tour is a fun way, for all ages, to learn what rural Maine life was like in the 1800s. Round out your visit with a nature walk on a historic carriage trail. A short hike takes you to the Pools of Simeon, reflecting pools designed by William Drew Washburn in 1903. Maps are available in the gift shop.
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful grounds.
Discounted rate only on August 30: $5 per person; $3 age 12 and under; $15 family rate (two adults with two to three children). Normal rates are $10/$6/$25 respectively.
The Norlands is at 290 Norlands Road. For more information, call 207-897-4366, email norlands@norlands.org or visit www.norlands.org.
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- Sun Journal staff photo A campaign was launched to raise $250,000 to build a barn at the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore. The original barn and the farmer’s cottage were destroyed in a fire in 2008. The cottage has been rebuilt. This photo was taken before the barn was rebuilt.
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