Discover Lewiston
Accommodation in Lewiston
Explore Lewiston through several themes: industrial and labor history, Franco-American culture, art, a river history trail and a nature sanctuary. As you plan your trip, you can distinguish these cultural, historical and scenic highlights from one another. The places and institutions show which aspects are in the foreground at each one.
Industrial History and Franco-American Culture
The Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning and Labor, or Maine MILL for short, is a history and culture museum in downtown Lewiston. It celebrates extraordinary stories of work and industrial ingenuity. If you are interested in labor and industrial history, the museum offers a clear way to explore these subjects. The Franco Center offers a different cultural perspective: the Lewiston-based performing arts organization celebrates Franco-American heritage and culture.
The Androscoggin Historical Society is another place to explore history: the society has public exhibits at 93 Lisbon Street in Lewiston. Together with the Maine MILL, it provides a way to explore the city’s history, from work and industrial ingenuity to the Historical Society’s public exhibits.
Historic Basilica and Art at Bates College
The city recommends visiting the historic Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul when you visit Lewiston. In 2004, the Vatican designated it a minor basilica in recognition of its historical, social and cultural significance. It is one of the historic sites that Lewiston itself highlights for visitors.
The Bates College Museum of Art offers a different focus. It organizes significant scholarly exhibitions featuring contemporary and historical artists, as well as exhibitions from its permanent collection. Its programs also include lectures, visiting artist events, workshops, film series and educational programs for the Lewiston-Auburn community and a broader museum audience. The programs connect exhibitions, collections and events with the college curriculum, as well as with the curricula of schools in the Lewiston-Auburn region and the state of Maine. In contrast to the Maine MILL, the focus here is on artists, collections and scholarly exhibitions.
History Along the Androscoggin River
The L-A River History Trail connects both sides of the Androscoggin River and features 30 historical markers. The markers are written in English and French. The trail offers a distinct way to explore history: its 30 bilingual markers and connection to the river set it apart from museum exhibitions and collections. As you plan your trip, you can choose between an institution focused on a particular topic or collection and a trail featuring historical markers.
A Nature Experience in the Heart of Lewiston
Thorncrag Sanctuary is a 450-acre nature sanctuary in the heart of Lewiston. Alongside the city’s historical and cultural themes, it brings a distinctive natural dimension to the picture. When choosing the focus of your stay, you can compare Thorncrag with the museums, the basilica and the River History Trail: here, the nature sanctuary and its landscape take center stage.
Explore more destinations: Auburn, Poland.
Return to the main travel overview: Androscoggin.
