Defending the Coast: Warfare in Casco Bay  is a semi-permanent exhibit that opened in May 2024. This exhibit explores Peaks Island's role in Casco Bay's harbor defense system that lasted for centuries. Until World War II, defending the coast was the priority. Deep-water ports, like Portland, facilitated trade, and healthy trade equaled a healthy economy. Islands and harbors were strategic locations when it came to defending the coastal cities along the eastern seaboard. Come and learn about the fortifications that dot Portland Harbor to this day. 

The Memorial Hall looks much like it did when the 5th Maine veterans used it for their annual meetings. The space features stained glass windows and civil war relics collected by the veterans as well as new exhibits displaying items from the museum’s collection.

Boats have been part of island life as long as people have been coming to Peaks, but they didn’t start out as the safe, reliable ferry service that we now take for granted. Casco Bay was a maritime highway, with vessels of all types heading between the islands and up and down the coast of Maine loaded with passengers and freight. Accidents occurred, especially before the days of formal Coast Guard inspections and high-tech radar systems. Some were inconvenient mishaps, but other incidents were catastrophic. This exhibit will explore ship collisions, groundings, and sinkings of 19th and 20th century vessels connected to Portland, including some that impacted Peaks Island directly.