Museum Passes from Maine Libraries

Today, I received an email from the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library in Kennebunkport, reminding me of the many benefits of my library card. One of them is being able to get museum passes for free from this and other Maine libraries. And while I’ve written about the unexpected benefits and services you can get at the library, such as borrowing tools or a sewing machine, as well as reciprocal museum admission benefits when you join a local museum, it reminded me that we hadn’t really done a comprehensive roundup of museum passes that various Maine libraries loan to patrons for free.

Exterior of the Portland Museum of Art in Portland maine. — Photo credit: Leah Ingram.

Museum Passes from Maine Libraries

As I mentioned, many Maine libraries stock museum passes for the community to use. What this actually means is that your local library can make a reservation for you at a museum they’ve partnered with and, in exchange, you get free or heavily discounted admission. Some do the whole thing digitally for you. Others have physical museum passes that you check out, like you would a book, and then are expected to return.

In addition to help with museum admission from your local library, keep in mind other programs that help certain families get into museums for free, such as these:

Also, keep in mind that every Friday is free Friday at the Portland Museum of Art. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, you get free museum admission.

List of Libraries that Offer Museum Passes

Libraries are listed in alphabetical order by geography. I’ve created a bulleted list of the museums and passes they offer, including any specific rules, regulations or restrictions. Also, I’m sharing contact information for each library, if it is available. All information was up-to-date and confirmed upon publishing.

Alfred

Parsons Memorial Library, 27 Saco Rd, Alfred, ME 04002, 207.324.2001

Your library card benefits include museum passes for free or discounted admission to the following:

Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk
Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine, Portland
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay

Biddeford

McArthur Public Library, 270 Main St, Biddeford, Maine, 04005, 207 284 4181

McArthur Library cardholders can take advantage of free or discounted passes available through the Children’s Room to the following:

The Children’s Museum of Maine–enjoy a 50% discount on admission for family groups of up to four.
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens–two adults and two children can enjoy free admission for the day.
The Portland Museum of Art–take in some art with free admission for no more than 2 adults and up to 6 children.
The Maine Wildlife Park–spend the day at an outdoor animal park using this pass to discount the admission fee to $5.00 per person for up to 5 people. Children 2 and under are free.
One Longfellow Square–one pass per show at One Longfellow Square will be made available to library patrons (each pass is valid for TWO tickets). Please note that patrons can only request ONE PASS PER QUARTER (Q1 July-Sep, Q2 Oct-Dec, Q3 Jan-Mar, Q4 Apr-June).
Historic New England–free tour admission at any of their 39 properties for two adults and their children and grandchildren under eighteen.

Please call the Children’s Room at 207-571-7205 to reserve a pass. You are eligible for only one pass per park/museum per day unless otherwise noted above.

Brunswick

Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011, (207) 725-5242

Not only does the Curtis Memorial Library offer museum and state park passes for Maine attractions but also you can reserve passes to certain museums in Boston as well.

Here is the list of Maine places where you can borrow a pass from the museum:

Boothbay Railway Village
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens – Please book pass 72 hours in advance of visit. This pass is sponsored by Cornerstones of Science.
Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine Please follow the instructions given when reserving your pass.
Farnsworth Art Museum
Maine Discovery Museum – This pass is sponsored by Cornerstones of Science.
Maine Maritime Museum
Maine State Parks Pass
Pejepscot History Center – Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum and the Skolfield-Whittier House
Portland Museum of Art

Additionally, here are the Boston museums for which passes are available to borrow:

New England Aquarium
Boston Museum Of Science — Please follow the instructions given when reserving your pass. This pass is sponsored by Cornerstones of Science.
Boston Children’s Museum — Please follow the instructions given when reserving your pass. This pass is sponsored by Cornerstones of Science.

Buxton

Berry Memorial Library, 93 Main Street, Buxton, Maine 04093, 207 929 5484

Community Pass to Children’s Museum & Theatre of Portland.
Community Pass for Southworth Planetarium in Portland, Maine. It admits a Family of up to 6 members for free.

Cape Elizabeth

Thomas Memorial Library, 6 Scott Dyer Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, 207-799-1720

Museum and park passes to the following:

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Maine Historical Society
Maine Maritime Museum
Maine State Park Pass
Maine Wildlife Park
Portland Museum of Art
Southworth Planetarium

Cumberland

Prince Memorial Library, 266 Main Street, Cumberland, ME 04021, (207) 829-2215

Passes to:

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Farnsworth Art Museum
Maine Maritime Museum
Maine State Parks Vehicle Pass
Maine Wildlife Park
Portland Museum of Art

East Waterboro

Waterboro Public Library, 187 Main Street, East Waterboro, ME 04030, (207) 247-3363

Passes to:

Brick Store Museum
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Maine Wildlife Park
Maine State Parks (Note: This pass cannot be used toward camping in Maine State Park campgrounds. A 17 person vehicle is the maximum size allowed with this pass. Also, park passes are not accepted at Acadia National Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Maine Wildlife Park, Peacock Beach, Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Penobscot River Corridor, Scarborough Beach, Songo Lock or Swan Island.)
Pineland Farms
Seashore Trolley Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)

Falmouth

Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth, ME 04105, (207) 781-2351

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Maine State Parks Vehicle Pass
Portland Museum of Art

Freeport

Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive, Freeport, ME 04032, 207-865-3307

One of your library card benefits is free passes or passes for reduced admission to the following museums and other New England attractions, which you can reserve by booking online via the library website:

Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine
50% discount pass for up to 4 people.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Free admission for a family (max of 2 adults and 10 kids).
Farnsworth Art Museum
Free admission for up to 4 adults.
Maine State Park Vehicle Passes
Free admission for one vehicle (up to a 17 passenger maximum). Goes out for 2 days, cannot be reserved or booked online.
Maine Wildlife Park
Discounted admission rate of $5.00 per person for up to 6 people.
Museum of Science, Boston
50% discount pass for up to 4 people.
New England Aquarium
50% discount pass for up to 4 people.
One Longfellow Square
Free admission for up to 2 people.
Portland Museum of Art
Free admission for up to 2 adults.
Winslow Park
Free admission for up to 4 people.

When not using the library, here are things to do in Freeport.

Gorham

Baxter Memorial Library, 71 South Street, Gorham, ME 04038, (207) 222-1190

The library offers museum passes to current cardholders at the following locations:

USM’s Southworth Planetarium
Free admission for up to six (6) people.
Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine
Free admission for up to six (6) people. Each additional visitor will be charged the guided group rate. The library can only hand out one pass per calendar day and dates can be reserved in advance. Visit or call the circulation desk to reserve the pass!
Maine Wildlife Park
Reduced rate of $5.00/person. This pass may be used at the Maine Wildlife Park during the season:
April 15 – November 11
Maine State Park Vehicle Pass
Free admission for one vehicle, up to 17 people. This pass may be used at most Maine State Parks and Historic Sites. There are two vehicle passes to lend and they may be borrowed for 3 days at a time. Call to inquire about availability.

Kennebunk

Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043, 207-985-2173

KFL has an extensive collection of museum passes for free and discounted admission to the following Maine cultural attractions:

Brick Store Museum
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Portland Museum of Art
Southworth Planetarium
Seashore Trolley Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH
Ogunquit Museum of American Art
Maine State Park Passes (Note: Pass cannot be used toward camping in Maine State Park campgrounds. Also, Pass is not accepted at Baxter State Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Penobscot River Corridor, Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Maine Wildlife Park, Peacock Beach, Scarborough Beach and Acadia National Park.)

Kennebunkport

Louis T. Graves Memorial Library, 18 Maine Street, Kennebunkport, ME 04046, (207) 967-2778

Graves Library offers free and discounted passes to the following museums:

Brick Store Museum
Seashore Trolley Museum
Portland Museum of Art
Ogunquit Museum of Art
Children’s Museum & Theatre (Portland)
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Strawbery Banke Museum (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)

Kittery

Rice Public Library, 8 Wentworth Street, Kittery, ME 03904, 207-439-1553

The museum passes available from The Rice Library in Kittery, for free or significantly reduced admission, include:

Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (open May through October only)
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Boston Museum of Science
Ogunquit Museum of American Art (open May through October only)
Peabody Essex Museum
Portland Museum of Art
Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point
Strawbery Banke

Limerick

Limerick Public Library, 55 Washington Street, Limerick, ME 04048, (207) 793-8975

The only pass available here is for the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, Maine. The 2025 Maine Wildlife Community Pass is to be used by individuals or families. Each member (3 yrs old and up) will be charged $5.00 per person for admission fee. Normally, admission is $8 per person for children and seniors and $11 per person for everyone else.

New Gloucester

New Gloucester Public Library, 379 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260, (207) 926-4840

Passes can be checked out for:

Maine Wildlife Park (discounted fare)
Maine State Parks (FREE Day Pass up to a 17 passenger vehicle)
Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine (discounted fare)
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (FREE 2 Adults + Children)

Old Orchard Beach

Libby Memorial Library, 27 Staples Street, Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064, 207.934.4351

Free admission passes to the following:

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Portland Museum of Art
Southworth Planetarium

Reduced price admission passes to the following:

Children’s Museum + Theater of Maine
Maine Wildlife Park
Seashore Trolley Museum

Portland

The Portland Public Library, which has a handful of sites around the city, offers free passes to the following local museums, parks and cultural sites. However, you will have to reserve many of the passes mentioned below from the downtown, main library location.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Call or visit the Lending Desk at the Downtown Library to request a pass for a specific date.
Tickets will be e-mailed to you in PDF format for printing or can be printed for you if reserving in-person at the Downtown library.
The library pass program allows up to two adults and 10 accompanying children (or up to five accompanying children with one adult) to reserve tickets to CMBG free of charge during the May-October garden season.
Individual patrons may use this pass up to one time per month.

Maine State Museum (Augusta) RENOVATION WORK UNDERWAY, PASS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE.

Call or visit the Lending Desk at any of our locations to request a pass for a specific date.
Pass admits four people.

Maine State Parks Pass

Reserve the Maine State Parks pass through the online catalog by placing a hold – as with other library materials – and pick up the pass from your branch of choice. Advance reservations for specific dates are not possible. The passes can be returned by placing them in the book drop at any PPL location.
Park passes can be reserved directly through the library’s catalog.
Each pass admits occupants of up to a 17-passenger vehicle to day-use facilities of select Maine State Parks and Historic Sites.
Pass is valid for day-use only and does not include camping.
Each library location offers only one pass, which may be borrowed for up to one week, no renewals.
As a courtesy to other patrons, be sure to return the pass on time.
The replacement cost for a lost pass is $105.00.
Please note that park passes are not accepted at the following sites: Acadia National Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Maine Wildlife Park, Peacock Beach, Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Penobscot River Corridor, Scarborough Beach, Songo Lock or Swan Island.

One Longfellow Square

Visit the Lending Desk at the Downtown Library (in person only, no calls or emails will be accepted) and present your library card.
Passes must be picked up in person.
Pass admits two people to a scheduled One Longfellow Square event of their choosing.
Patrons can request ONE PASS PER QUARTER (Q1 July – Sept., Q2 Oct.–Dec., Q3 Jan.–March, Q4 April–June)
The pass provided by the Library, gives the patron a unique code and instructions on how to redeem tickets with that code, through the One Longfellow Square website.

Portland Museum of Art

Call or visit the Lending Desk at any of our locations to request a pass for a specific date.
Pass admits up to two adults and six children for one visit.
Each library location offers only one pass per day.
One pass/patron/month.

Portland Observatory

Call or visit the Lending Desk at any of our locations to request a pass for a specific date.
Pass admits the pass holder and three accompanying others to Portland Observatory.
Each library location offers two passes per day.
One pass/patron/month.
The Observatory’s season is usually Memorial Day through mid-October.

Portland Stage

Visit the Lending Desk at any of our locations to request a pass.
Passes must be picked up in person and cannot be reserved over the phone.
Pass admits up to two people for the current Mainstage show.
The library offers only one pass per show.
One pass/patron/month.
Pass must be presented to the Portland Stage box office on the day of the show between noon and showtime to claim tickets.

Southworth Planetarium (USM Portland Campus)

Call or visit the Lending Desk at any of our locations to request a pass for a specific date.
Pass admits up to six people.
For families or individuals, but not intended for organized groups such as camps or scouts.
Each library location offers only one pass per day.
One pass/patron/month.
You may use your pass on any day you choose.

Raymond

Raymond Village Library, 3 Meadow Road, Raymond, ME 04071, (207) 655-4283

Use your library card to borrow passes to museums and much more including:

One Longfellow Square
Historic New England
Portland Sea Dogs
Tassel Top Park
Portland Museum of Art
Maine Wildlife Park
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Maine State Parks
Railway Village Museum
Children’s Museum and Theatre
Southworth Planetarium

Saco

Dyer Library, 371 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072, (207) 283-3861

Free and discounted passes to:

Maine Wildlife Park
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Maine State Parks
Portland Museum of Art
Seashore Trolley Museum
Children’s Museum and Theatre
One Longfellow Square (One pass available per event. It is recommended that you check their website for information on upcoming shows and reserve ahead of time. Available until July 1, 2025.)

Sanford

Louis B Goodall Memorial Library (currently closed for renovations)

Library card holders can use their card to reserve free or discounted passes for entrance to the following:

Brick Store Museum
Maine Maritime Museum
Portland Museum of Art
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH
Wells Reserve at Laudholm
Woodman Museum, Dover, NH

Scarborough

Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough, ME 04074, (207) 883-4723

Passes to:

Portland Museum of Art
Children’s Museum and Theatre
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Maine State Parks
Maine Wildlife Park

South Berwick

South Berwick Public Library, 27 Young Street, South Berwick, ME 03908, (207) 384-3308

Note: The museum and other passes mentioned below and marked with an asterisk (*) are shared with the three libraries in the Berwicks: South Berwick, Berwick and D.A. Hurd Library in North Berwick: Only one pass among the three libraries is allowed per day. Call ahead to reserve.

*Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine Portland, ME offers a 50% discount on admission for up to four people.
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Dover, NH Offers reduced admission of 50% off regular price for up to FOUR people.
*Historic New England Offers free admission for two people to the 36 properties.
*Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA Entitles two people for $10.00 MFA general admission.
*Museum of Science in Boston This pass will admit up to 4 people at a 50% discount on tickets to the Museum’s Exhibit Halls. Children under 3 are not included in the count of 4 and are always admitted for free but must have a timed ticket. Pass must be picked up in Berwick at the Berwick Public Library
*Portland Museum of Art Portland, ME offers free admission for up to two adults and six children.
*Seacoast Science Center Rye, NH offers admission of 50% off the regular price for two adults and their children.
Strawbery Banke Portsmouth, NH offers free admission for up to two adults and four children.
*Maine State Park Pass Vehicle pass for Maine State Parks. Pickup at the D.A. Hurd library in North Berwick.

South Portland

There are two branch locations for the South Portland Public Library: 482 Broadway and 155 Wescott Road.

The South Portland Public Library provides several park, museum and attraction passes, available on a first-come, first-served basis, to anyone with a current South Portland Public Library card in good standing. The park, museum, and attraction passes are only valid for the date reserved.

All available passes [except for the Maine State Park Vehicle Pass, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Pass, and the Maine Historical Society Pass] may be reserved in advance by calling the Main Library’s Front Desk. The Maine Wildlife Park passes do not need to be reserved and are available at all times on a walk-in basis.

Available passes include:

Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Farnsworth Art Museum
Maine Historical Society
Maine Maritime Museum
Maine State Parks Vehicle Pass (cannot be reserved; pick up in person only)
Maine Wildlife Park
Portland Museum of Art
Southworth Planetarium

Springvale

Springvale Public Library, 443 Main Street, Springvale, ME 04083, (207) 324-4624

You can reserve museum passes to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and the Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine.

Wells

Wells Pub lic Library, 1434 Post Road, Wells, ME 04090, (207) 646-8181

Brick Store Museum
Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Ogunquit Museum of American Art
Portland Museum of Art
Seashore Trolley Museum
Southworth Planetarium

Westbrook

Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main Street, Westbrook, ME 04092, (207) 854-0630

Free or discounted museum passes for the:

Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine
Maine State Parks
Maine Wildlife Park
Portland Museum of Art
Southworth Planetarium
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Yarmouth

Merrill Memorial Library, 215 Main Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096, (207) 846-4763

Free and reduced-cost passes to the following:

Children’s Museum of Maine – 50% discount pass for up to 4 people. Please note: Reservations with the museum must be made prior to booking our pass.
Farnsworth Art Museum – Free admission for 1 adult and any children under 16 years of age.
Maine Botanical Garden – Not available year round. Free entry for 2 adults and unlimited children.
Maine Maritime Museum – Free admission for a maximum of 8 individuals in a single family group. Children under 17 are always free.
Maine State Park Vehicle Pass – Free admission for up to 17 people in one car. Not reservable. First come, first serve.
Maine Wildlife Park in Gray – $3.50 per person, 3 years and older, pass for up to 7 people.
Ogunquit Museum of American Art – Free entry for 4 people.
Portland Museum of Art – Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.

York

York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road, York, ME 03909, (207) 363-2818

The York Public Library offers free and discounted admission passes to museums and other cultural and historical attractions in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Passes can be reserved online but must be picked up at the Library. Limit one pass per month per museum.

Maine

Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine, Portland
Maine Historical Society
Maine State Parks Vehicle Pass
Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit (Open May to October 31)
Portland Museum of Art, Portland
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunk

New Hampshire

Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Dover
Seacoast Science Center, Rye
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth

Massachusetts

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston