EXPLORE THE ONLINE COLLECTIONS DATABASE
Founded in 1936 by historian, writer, botanist, and civic leader Louise Helen Coburn (1856-1949), the Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center (SHHM&RC) preserves and shares a growing historical collection that reflects and celebrates Skowhegan’s rich history and cultural heritage.
After acquiring the property in 1936, Louise Helen Coburn restored and furnished the History House to reflect domestic life in Skowhegan in the mid-1800s. She added a Museum Annex at the rear of the house, complete with custom-designed cabinetry to house her manuscripts and research for her two-volume seminal history, Skowhegan on the Kennebec, published in 1941.
In 2024 the Museum Annex underwent a major renovation and was renamed the Louise Helen Coburn Research Center to honor her vision for a community research library and museum.
What began with Coburn’s manuscripts, research, and personal artifacts has grown into a diverse and ever-expanding collection formed by the generosity of many benefactors. SHHM&RC stands as a tribute to Coburn’s enduring vision and to the Skowhegan community’s commitment to preserving the stories of its people, industries, and cultural traditions for generations to come.
Today, the collection includes more than 10,000 furnishings and domestic objects, textiles, clothing, art, memorabilia, books, photographs, postcards, ephemera, and archival documents.
The online collections database is a work in progress and represents only a small sample of the museum’s collections. We will continue to add records as we catalog and research the collection. Check back often!
If you have information to share or questions about the collections, please email: curator@skowheganhistoryhouse.org.