Events & Exhibits
Our collections are available to the public during open hours and special tours. We also host lectures, concerts, and other live events.
Lafayette: American Revolutionary to Anti-Slavery Advocate
Presented by Alan Hoffman. This lecture will focus on General Lafayette’s important role in the American Revolution and his evolution as an anti-slavery advocate.
Mourning Maine’s Dead: Victorian Hair Jewelry & Crafts
Presented by Elizabeth DeWolfe. Learn how Victorian-era Mainers crafted flowers, wreaths, and jewelry from human hair to mourn and remember their loved ones.
Robert Rogers of the Rangers
Presented by George Morrison. Who was this a famous frontiersman who rose to fame during the French and Indian War and then sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War?
Benedict Arnold’s March to Quebec, 250 Years Later
Presented by Tom Desjardins. Before Benedict Arnold was branded a traitor, he was one of the colonies' most valuable leaders.
Lost Pequawket Tribe of the Saco River
Presented by Brenton Hill. The Pequawkets lived along the Saco River for over 10,000 years. Mr. Hill will be displaying a few of the Native American nation’s surviving artifacts while sharing their history.
Discovering New England Stone Walls
Presented by Kevin Gardner. The author of The Granite Kiss explains how and why New England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls, while building a miniature wall on a tabletop using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket.
Harvey Reid & Joyce Andersen
Join us at the Historical Museum for an afternoon of music!
A Visit with Mary Todd Lincoln
Presented by Sally Mummey. Dressed in Mary Todd Lincoln’s authentically reproduced wardrobe, Mummey will impart details of the first lady’s life through actual events and storytelling.
Victorian Holiday Tours of the Goodwin House
Extended dates! Come tour the historic Goodwin House, reopened and beautifully decorated in Victorian style just for the holidays!
Victorian Holiday Tours of the Goodwin House
Come tour the historic Goodwin House, reopened and beautifully decorated in Victorian style just for the holidays!
Jingle & Mingle
Take a break from shopping and join us for the festive holly-days on Saturdays, December 6 and 13!
Victorian Holiday Tours of the Goodwin House
Come tour the historic Goodwin House, reopened and beautifully decorated in Victorian style just for the holidays!
Victorian Holiday Tours of the Goodwin House
Come tour the historic Goodwin House, reopened and beautifully decorated in Victorian style just for the holidays!
Jingle & Mingle
Take a break from shopping and join us for the festive holly-days on Saturdays, December 6 and 13!
Holly Daze Parade
Come see us in the 2025 Holly Daze Parade & Tree Lighting. We’re thrilled to be participating in one of the City of Sanford’s most magical nights of the year!
Victorian Holiday Tours of the Goodwin House
Come tour the historic Goodwin House, reopened and beautifully decorated in Victorian style just for the holidays!
Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum Holiday Party
Come share the yuletide spirit in your favorite holiday attire at the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society community holiday party!
![[mix]tape a cappella](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6090074d18df2d6ed3599787/1762280428021-2917RGEFQUMZD73ZAMMM/header-%5Bmix%5Dtape+a+cappella+2025-11-16-email%2Bsocial.png)
[mix]tape a cappella
Join us for a unique mix of a cappella music from Dover's [mix]tape a cappella!
Colonial Tavern Night
Join us for an evening of merriment at the Sweat-Morin Homestead to enjoy a sip of the new Holy Moses Ale, hard cider, and colonial tavern food.
Hermitage Piano Trio
Experience the expressive power and dynamic range of one of today’s leading Grammy-nominated chamber ensembles.
18th Century Harvest Day
A unique look at how people prepared for winter in the 18th century. We'll be demonstrating chores using authentic tools and techniques.
Civil War Reenactment: The Military and Daily Life of a Soldier
Experience the sights and sounds of the Civil War when the 3rd Maine Regiment, Company A, Volunteer Infantry sets up camp on the grounds of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society museum.
Historic Barns of Northern New England
Special lecture about Northern New England’s historic barns, presented by timber framer specialist Arron Sturgis.
Call Me Madam: A Visit with Clara Goodwin
Tour the Goodwin House from Clara Goodwin’s point of view. Participants will also take tea with “Madam” in 19th-century tradition.
Mike McGinnis’ Downeast NYC Band
Jazz concert with saxophonist and clarinetist Mike McGinnis, guitarist Ryan Blotnick, bass player Gui Duvignau, and drummer Hamir Atwal.
A Day in the Life of an 18th Century Servant
Understand the nature of daily life among the servants who worked for the more “upper crust” population of our area during the 18th century.
York County and the Civil War
Exhibit examines Southern Maine’s involvement in the Civil War. Opening includes a lecture, the “Mystery of the Missing Medals of Honor.”
Going to School in Colonial New England
“Attend” three kinds of post-Revolutionary schools, where you will practice skills to better understand the evolution of education.
Sweat-Morin Homestead Grand Opening
Help us celebrate the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year restoration project of the Sweat-Morin Homestead!
Colonial Dame School
A special program for all ages! Children will “attend” a colonial dame school, where they'll learn, play period games, and more!
Holidays of Early New England
Discover the historical origins of today’s major holidays, as well as others formerly observed in New England.
The Age of Medicine & Midwifery
Guided hands-on activities will focus on keeping ‘cool’ and will help to better understand the role of women during colonial times.
They Behaved Very Cleverly: Diaries, Letters & Journals as Clues to the Past
Learn how written primary sources (diaries, letters and journals) highlight the historical information that may be found in such documents.
To See if the Town: An 18th Century Town Meeting
We will investigate the town meeting minutes of April 7, 1794 — and you, the audience, will become the citizens of the town!
Josée Vachon
Franco-American singer Josée Vachon will be performing French Canadian rhythm and songs at the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
Poets Reading
Mark you calendars for Sunday, April 27 at 3:00 PM for a Poets Reading, featuring Melissa Alipalo, Jeanne Bamforth, Jonathan Pessant, and Ruth Towne.
Volunteer Open House
The Sanford-Springvale Historical Society is in search of volunteers for our upcoming season. Help us make a difference in the community.
Southern Rail
Southern Rail will once again showcase their outstanding bluegrass musical abilities at the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 3:00 PM.