Museum

This Rebellion: Maine and the Civil War through May 26, 2014 

Lecture Hall Gallery

Dear Old Maine I'm Coming Back: Home & Hearth Reflected in the MHS Sheet Music Collection

Showcase Gallery

Col. Charles W. Tilden of Castine 

Col. Tilden, ca. 1863 MMN# 4295

Col. Charles W. Tilden (1832-1914), of Castine, enlisted in May 1861 as first lieutenant in Co. B of the 2nd Maine Volunteers. He eventually joined the ranks of the 16th Maine Infantry and was promoted to colonel in July 1863.

Soldiers in the 16th Maine knew they were about to be overtaken by Confederate troops on July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg. To prevent their flags from being captured, they tore them in pieces and hid the pieces on themselves.

Flag relic, ca. 1863 MMN# 82258

Tilden saved several fragments, even while imprisoned at Libby Prison. He protected the flag piece seen above by hiding it in his mouth.

He sent it to Lieutenant Francis Wiggin in 1914, and wrote that the flag pieces were "not to be surrendered to any one, friend or foe."

For more stories like this one, visit our exhibit This Rebellion: Maine and the Civil War.

Guests visit the WLH

Since May, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House has had much activity, hosting guests from far reaches of the globe including Sri Lanka, India, Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain, and all across the U.S. Many schoolchildren visited, and enjoyed learning about the poet when he was a child. We offered special tours for groups including Seeds of Peace, the MFA Boston, Downeast Adult Services, and the Walpole Society. We collaborated with the Longfellow Garden Club to bring other garden clubs to tour our campus. This summer a film crew from Japan came to the House and filmed for a Portland tourism segment, which will air on Japanese television. As always, our guides and docents made this season a success! But don't take our word for it, here are a few notes from our visitors via TripAdvisor.

"The guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and he made the house come alive." - Guest from Ann Arbor, Michigan (October 2013)

"A worthwhile, hour-long tour by dedicated staff who truly seemed proud of their role in educating others about one of our nation's greatest poets." - Guest from Murray, Kentucky (September 2013)

"Our tour guide was funny, knowledgeable, and well-spoken. I'm not a great fan of American literature, but she really peaked my interest in revisiting Longfellow's works." - Guest from Fountain, Colorado (August 2013)

Visit our TripAdvisor page to leave your review!  

Tours are offered in November on Saturdays only with limited hours; holiday tours begin on November 29 and end on New Year's Eve. The House will open for the 2014 season on May 1.