LEWISTON, Maine – The Maine Museum of Innovative Learning and Labor, better known as Maine MILL, is preparing to open the doors of its new home next year in a fully restored section of the historic Camden Yarns Mill. The transformation of the 19th-century structure is part of a broader vision to create a cultural and educational hub that reflects Lewiston’s industrial legacy and ongoing evolution.

Construction began earlier this year after Maine MILL secured a $500,000 humanities grant in 2022 to support the multi-million-dollar rehabilitation of the mill. The museum’s executive director, Rachel Ferrante, and city officials celebrated the groundbreaking in January.

The new space will feature a main exhibit gallery that spans the history of labor in Lewiston from the 1850s through the 1990s, complete with photographs, artifacts, and interactive storytelling. In addition to this permanent gallery, the museum will offer a rotating exhibition space on the upper level, a design lab, and a newly constructed modern annex attached to the mill building.

“We’re really telling the story of this community over time so that a mix of old and new [technologies] has always been a part of this area’s story regardless of what time period you’re talking about,” said Ferrante.

The museum’s mission reaches beyond historical preservation—it’s about making connections across generations and spotlighting how labor and innovation have shaped the community.

“We want this space to tell the story of labor and innovation and what our community and surrounding area looks like today,” Ferrante added.

With the expansion, the museum will increase its educational programming, offering classrooms and hands-on exhibits aimed at both children and adults. These new facilities are designed to promote intergenerational learning by bridging past and present.

“With the classroom, we’ll be able to teach kids what went on back in the days while providing hands-on experience,” Ferrante said. “Families can show their kids on visits what Lewiston looked like to them when they were kids. This will be a generational project and a cultural hub when it’s done.”

The new museum, expected to open in 2026, will not only honor the city’s textile and industrial roots but also serve as a center for dialogue and innovation, embracing Lewiston’s growing diversity and economic transformation.

In repurposing the Camden Yarns Mill, the project is breathing new life into a landmark building while reaffirming Lewiston’s place as a city built on resilience, ingenuity, and community identity. When completed, Maine MILL will offer a blend of local storytelling, interactive learning, and forward-looking programming meant to preserve the past and inspire the future.

Originally reported by Matthew Jaroncyk in Spectrum Local News.