Tours, Talks & Gatherings
Public programs illustrating the history, art and cultures of our region include walking tours, presentations, and special gatherings.
The Museum offers a wide range of public programming for multi-generations. Visit for a self-guided tour of the exhibitions, or join us for scheduled public programs like walking tours, scholarly presentations, topical gatherings and discussion groups to expand your learning.
History Tours
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the tour start. Tours last about 65 minutes and cover about a mile roundtrip.
- If the forecast on the day of your walk calls for rain, please contact the Museum in advance to make sure the walk is still scheduled.
- Email: [email protected] OR call: (207)985-4802. If the walk is postponed, you will have the choice to reschedule or receive a refund.
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Charter a Private History Tour! Private tours are available. Please contact us at [email protected] or (207)985-4802 at least two weeks in advance of your anticipated tour date to arrange a private tour.
Kennebunk's Historic District Walking Tour
This outdoor walking tour of Kennebunk’s National Register Historic District features 200 years of structures and stories (on one street!), and shares the stories of the people that lived inside the homes on Summer Street.
Offered Thursdays and Saturdays, May – October. Tours depart from the Museum lobby. Click button at right to find tour schedule.
Shipbuilding Odyssey Bus Tour
This 90-minute guided mini-bus tour will take you to key locations connected to Kennebunk’s shipbuilding past. Discover how shipyards supported the community while connecting it to global trade, and how this era left a lasting mark on the town, from its economy to the beautiful homes of merchants and shipmasters that still line Summer Street today.
This tour is offered in partnership with Ride Maine and is sponsored by Federal Jack’s Brew Pub.
Offered monthly from June through September. Tours depart from the Museum lobby. Click button at right to find tour schedule.
Twilight Tales of the Kennebunks
Join us for an evening walking tour exploring the mysterious and memorable stories of the Kennebunks. Beginning at the Brick Store Museum, this guided walk will lead guests to Hope Cemetery and along nearby wooded paths while sharing tales of local legends, unexplained happenings, and fascinating figures from the past. Along the way you may hear stories of Silas Perkins, the Isadore, and other intriguing stories drawn from the Museum’s archives. Tours run approximately 90 minutes and cover a short walking route with uneven terrain.
Offered monthly June through September. Tours depart from the Museum lobby. Click button at right to find tour schedule.
Imagine That: Three Centuries of Kennebunk Commerce Tour
This outdoor walking tour of Kennebunk’s Main Street features three centuries of commercial history. Start at the Brick Store Museum (itself part of the town’s commercial history!) and explore the history of commerce and trade that occurred on Main Street over the past 300 years. Tour ends at the Lafayette Mill at Storer Street (visitors can return to the Museum or support local shops downtown!).
Offered Tuesdays, May – October. Tours depart from the Museum lobby. Click button at right to find tour schedule.
Inside History Museum Tour
It’s the Museum’s 90th Year! Explore the Brick Store Museum’s own history across five interconnected buildings, which range from 166 to 216 years old. Once home to businesses, organizations, and apartments, these spaces came together as the Brick Store Museum between 1936 and 1959.
Go behind the scenes to see highlights from the Museum’s collection of more than 50,000 artifacts while learning how these historic buildings have evolved over time, and how the Museum came to be. This guided tour lasts approximately one hour.
Tour ticket includes admission to the Museum exhibitions.
*Accessibility note: The tour moves through historic buildings and includes uneven flooring and staircases. The Museum’s second floor is not currently wheelchair accessible.*
Offered January through April. Click button at right to find our tour schedule.
Smartphone Tour
Can’t attend a tour in person? Not to worry! The Museum has designed our Kennebunk History Explorer via StoryMaps so you can explore Kennebunk’s history anytime, on foot or in your car. Click the image below to start exploring.
More to Explore
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Tour the Museum’s Collections Storage in this behind the scenes tour, covering the history of the Museum, highlights of the collections, and current practices in Museum collecting. Offered quarterly.
Members Meet the Artifact
Museum Members are invited to quarterly special access programs featuring specific topics and artifacts in the Museum’s collection. Join today to get your invitation to these artifact-up-close events.
Group Tours
Learn more about scheduling a group tour or program at the Museum.
Classes + Workshops
The Museum School offers children’s and adults’ workshops.
Special Events
Annual special events at the Museum bring history and arts to life in a big way.
Talks + Discussion
The Museum schedules lectures, forums and presentations year-round. Please check our Calendar for recent additions!
Winter Archaeology Forum
The Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance (CPAA), of which the Museum is a part, presents an annual forum at the Museum’s Program Center. The Forum typically welcomes archaeology and history professionals and educators from throughout the State of Maine to speak on current trends in archaeology. CPAA Principal Investigator Tim Spahr leads the series of speakers to explore current work in Southern Maine and answer audience questions. This forum is intended for general audiences and those particularly interested in New England archaeology and archaeology education.
Rogers Lecture Series
The Museum’s Rogers Lecture Series hosts thematic topics and scholarly speakers to focus on themes in current exhibitions and programs. These presentations occur both on Zoom and in-person, depending on the program type.
Find scheduled lectures on our Calendar.
Discussion Group
The Museum is proud to partner with Maine Humanities Council to host a Discussion Series that connects you to history in the format of a book club. Discussion groups occur annually and feature archival documents like letters, diaries and ledgers. The group reads and discusses personal interpretations of the material.
Find our next Discussion Group on the Calendar.
Request a Speaker
Brick Store Museum staff and volunteers present lectures focusing on a wide range of topics related to Kennebunk. Bring history and art to your organization! We can bring lectures to audiences at all learning levels.
Learn more about our topics here.
Gatherings
Please check our Calendar for recent additions!
Annual Events
Special events at the Museum illustrate history, art and cultures in a big way. These community-centric events help raise awareness of the Museum’s mission and help us to raise much-needed funds for the Museum’s work.
Check out a list of Special Events here.
Annual Members' Meeting
Thank you for being a Museum Member! The annual Members’ Gathering at the Museum occurs once a year (in addition to special exhibition openings) to say THANK YOU to our passionate and dedicated Museum Members.
Membership at the Museum is our lifeblood. The Museum owes you our thanks! The Annual Members’ Gathering consists of a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, tours through collections storage, and our annual update to the community and Members’ Meeting.
Members Meet the Artifact
Museum Members are invited to quarterly special access programs featuring specific topics and artifacts in the Museum’s collection. to get your invitation to these artifact-up-close events.
Find scheduled programs on our Calendar.
Annual Gingerbread Display
Gather ’round and enjoy community creations! This annual event occurs the week before Christmas, inviting gingerbread creators young-and-old to display their works for the community.
Learn more about the Gingerbread Display here.
You may also be interested in…
Digital Learning Center
The Digital Learning Center is the Museum’s central hub of online resources and tools; including archival features and online exhibits. (Learn more…)
Support Collections Funding
Support the care of the Museum’s collections through a donation to the Barry-Bodman Fund, established for collections conservation and care. (Learn more…)
Archaeology
Discover more information about the Museum’s archaeological work. (Learn more…)
Exhibitions
Education
