2005 has come and gone, but there was quite a lot that made it a very positive year to remember:

• Thanks to you, we EXCEEDED our 2005 Annual Fund goal and raised more than $78,000;
• The Museum showcased two new exhibitions and held 19 events throughout the year;
• Visitation and outreach increased 11%, with visitors coming from all over Maine, 41 states, and 12 foreign countries;
• Over 617 objects and archival pieces were donated or purchased for the Museum’s collections, from 37 different donors;
• We accomplished more than $20,000 in necessary repairs and improvements to the 19th-century structures that comprise the Museum’s campus;
• We improved communications, increased our visibility, and encouraged heritage tourism by beginning this e-newsletter and creating a brand new Museum brochure—our first in nearly a decade;
• The Museum's activities were covered in more than 175 media clips; and
• More than 115 volunteers gave of their time, energy and enthusiasm in support of the Museum;

The Brick Store Museum and the Kennebunk Free Library are pleased to present Then & Now: An Exhibition of Archival Images of Kennebunk Homes, curated by Kathy Ostrander and generously sponsored by Downing Real Estate Agency.

2006 is the Year of the Museum, and institutions across the country are celebrating 100 years of museums in American life. The Brick Store Museum is joining in the national party by helping to promote the Year of the Museum in conjunction with our very own 70th anniversary this year. The Year of the Museum (YOM) is dedicated to celebrating the rich variety of museums in America, their contributions to civic and cultural life and the unique, personal experiences museums offer visitors each and every day. Welcome to the celebration!

To coincide with the schools’ winter vacation, children ages 8-12 can spend a fun and educational day at the Museum on Wednesday, February 22, 9:45 am - 3 pm (snow date: Feb. 23), participating in a fun, interactive workshop on the Art and History of Sailors' Valentines. All projects will be displayed in the Museum at the end of the day. Pre- registration is required by February 15. Cost is $25 per camper ($20 for Museum members).

This program is the first in a series of four educational outreach programs for 2006 to be generously sponsored by The Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation.

Our popular Kennebunks A to Z exhibition closed at the end of 2005. If you weren't one of the more than 1,500 people to see it-- or if you simply want to visit it again--now is your chance.

Thanks to the help and generosity of Time Warner Cable's aroundmaine.com, a version of The Kennebunks A to Z exhibition continues its run indefinitely in cyberspace! Cruise the alphabet Kennebunks-style and see the people, places and events that have shaped this region over the centuries.

email: info@brickstoremuseum.org

phone: 207.985.4802

web: http://www.brickstoremuseum.org