Plan your visit!
How to get here
Peaks Island is a twenty-minute boat ride from Portland, with ferries departing almost every hour from Casco Bay Lines. Most of our visitors prefer the ten-minute walk from the boat landing to the Fifth Maine. For those who don’t, the island taxi greets every boat and there are golf-cart rentals available at the landing.
Hours & Admission
Our museum season runs from Memorial Day weekend through Indigenous Peoples Weekend. In July and August, we are open daily from 10am-3pm.
During the other months of the regular season, we are open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Mondays.
We also open by appointment! If you'd like to visit the museum when we don't have regular opening hours, please call 207.766.3330.
Admission to the museum is $8/person, $20 for a family, and members get in free!
Touring the museum
You can see the entire museum in about an hour. If you only have a half hour, it’s still worth a visit—just focus on one of the exhibit floors.
The first floor of the museum is devoted to the 5th Maine Regiment history. Be sure to meander through the hall, look at the beautiful windows, check out the interesting artifacts and pictures lining the walls, and explore the exhibits on display.
The second floor of the museum covers Peaks Island history from the 1800s to present. Our guests are always amazed to learn about the rich and varied past that the island played in Casco Bay.
School groups
The Fifth Maine Museum is a great field trip for school groups, combining the fun of a ferry boat ride with the discovery of local history and the Fifth Maine Regiment’s role in the Civil War. The museum is a short walk from the ferry landing and our beautiful wrap around porch is a spectacular spot for students to enjoy their snack or packed lunch! The entrance fee for school groups is $3/person. We are able to accommodate school visits between April and October. Please contact us at least two weeks prior to your planned visit in order to arrange your program.