Located in downtown Bangor, the Maine Discovery Museum invites people of all ages to learn by doing—through hands-on exhibits, science-forward programs, and partnerships that extend far beyond its three floors of exhibit space. While many visitors know the museum as a destination for children, its impact reaches across Maine, connecting families, libraries, schools, and communities through learning experiences that make exploration accessible, relevant, and joyful.
Throughout the museum, exploration brings generations together. Adults often find themselves learning alongside children—building, experimenting, and problem-solving as a shared experience. Whether through interactive science exhibits or collaborative activities like designing a Mars habitat, the museum creates moments where curiosity bridges age gaps. Toddlers, elementary-aged children, and older youth all find opportunities to explore topics that match their changing interests and abilities.
@potus has made celebrating America’s 250th birthday a priority for this Administration, and @freedom250 and @us_imls are helping bring our Nation’s history directly to communities across the country. 🇺🇸
Great to bring the Freedom Truck to the Peach State and celebrate America’s story with the great people of Georgia! #Freedom250 /freedom-truck
Preserving a remarkable legacy of craftsmanship and community, @CanterburyShakers in New Hampshire is cataloging more than 40,000 historic artifacts from one of the country’s most complete Shaker communities. This work, supported by an #IMLSgrant, is opening new doors for researchers and visitors alike.
#IMLS250
A constitutional milestone! 📜 New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788, officially putting the Constitution into effect.
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Through #Freedom250, we remember the bold actions that stirred resistance across New Hampshire.
Before independence was declared, patriots seized gunpowder at Fort Constitution, fueling the determination that would carry into the battles ahead.
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A leading voice of resistance from Massachusetts, Samuel Adams played a pivotal role in rallying support for American independence. His efforts helped spark movements like the Boston Tea Party, uniting colonists against British rule. His legacy lives on in the enduring spirit of civic engagement and protest.
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The Longfellow House in Cambridge, Massachusetts has ties to multiple American heroes. It served as an early headquarters for George Washington during the American Revolution, then became the home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America’s most influential poets, best known for The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, which helped shape our early national identity and literary culture.
This image of the Longfellow House was made available by Digital Commonwealth, a project of #IMLSgrant recipient @BPLBoston that provides free digitization services, digital preservation, and online access to cultural heritage materials from Massachusetts institutions, bringing together collections from hundreds of libraries, museums, historical societies, and archives across the state.
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Our #Freedom250 journey brings us to Massachusetts, where a revolution was set in motion.
From the “shot heard ’round the world” at Lexington Battle Green to the stand at Bunker Hill, Massachusetts ignited a movement that would change history.
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🏅IMLS is kicking off the annual #IMLSmedals Share Your Story to celebrate the 10 2025 National Medal winners! Join us every Friday through June to learn more! Today, we hope you will join us in congratulating the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, where art is a catalyst for connection!
Located in the heart of Little Rock, AMFA is dedicated to creating welcoming, accessible experiences that bring people together—through exhibitions, programs, and partnerships that reflect the richness of Arkansas communities and the shared human experience. With a new building that opened in 2023, the museum has embraced its role as a vibrant hub where art, community, and everyday life intersect.
Born in Maryland, Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician, astronomer, and inventor whose work helped shape early American science and city planning. He is best known for his detailed almanacs and for assisting in surveying the land that would become Washington, D.C. Banneker’s intellect and determination challenged the boundaries of his time, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire innovation and the pursuit of knowledge.
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