Bath library, maritime museum awarded Revolutionary Maine Commemoration Grant

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Patten Free Library and the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath are partnering to offer a series of community-centered programs exploring early American history, democracy and civic identity through education, arts, and public engagement. These events are funded by a $5,000 Maine State Library Revolutionary Maine Commemoration Grant.

The events coincide with the Maine Historical Societies’ statewide tour of the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence, which will be visiting libraries, museums and other community organizations in each of Maine’s 16 counties from July through October. These visits will give all Mainers the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the declaration and its meaning to each of us as Mainers and Americans — and to participate in the 250th in deeply local and meaningful ways.

Events with the Patten Free Library and the Maine Maritime Museum include:

• The Watertown Treaty of 1776: A Wabanaki Perspective: 6 p.m. Monday, July 7, at the Maine Maritime Museum, featuring Osihkiyol Crofton-Macdonald of the Wolastoqey Nation speaking on the Treaty of Watertown; the first “foreign” treaty signed by the United States after the Declaration of Independence.

• Outdoor screening of National Treasure in Library Park in September (exact date TBA).

• American Girl Doll Club celebration with Felicity Merriman, a historical character set in Revolutionary War–era Williamsburg, Virginia; featuring pony rides, crafts and games in Library Park (exact date TBA).

For more information about these events, including registration, visit pattenfreelibrary.org and mainemaritimemuseum.org.

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