Owls Head Transportation Museum

Perched at the end of a former World War II training airstrip, the Owls Head Transportation Museum is one of Midcoast Maine's most unexpected and immersive cultural destinations. The museum was sparked by a simple idea in the 1970s—"Wouldn't it be fun to have vintage planes flying around Owls Head?"—shared between IBM executive Tom Watson Jr., aviation enthusiast Jim Rockefeller, and fellow founder Steve Lang. Their vision has grown into a beloved nonprofit institution known for its living collection of antique aircraft, automobiles, and engines.

Visitors here don't just observe from behind a velvet rope. Owls Head is dedicated to preserving the movement, function, and stories of transportation history. If it’s in the collection, it either drives, flies, or operates. Guests might catch sight of a 1907 race car in motion or a vintage plane lifting off from the grassy runway just beyond the main hangar. A dedicated restoration shop keeps everything in working order, and a growing STEM education program is engaging the next generation of inventors, tinkerers, and dreamers.

The museum now hosts a packed calendar of public events, each one themed to spotlight a slice of mechanical history: from air shows to classic car rallies, foreign autos to motorcycles. During these gatherings, up to 250 private vehicle owners join the museum's core collection, transforming the grounds into a rolling celebration of ingenuity. Meanwhile, indoor exhibits feature everything from rare bicycles to early engines, totaling over 150 operational vehicles on view year-round.

More than a collection, Owls Head is an experience. Guests can hop into a Model T for a ride, watch restoration work in real time, or take part in hands-on learning inside a new 8,000-square-foot STEM center opening in 2025. And for many, the stories sparked by a visit—whether it's a grandfather's war plane or a family's first car—are just as memorable as the exhibits themselves. The museum's greatest export? A personal connection to the magic of motion, and a renewed sense of wonder about how things work.

FAMOUS FOR:
Offering a fully immersive, hands-on experience with vintage vehicles and aircraft. Unlike traditional museums, nearly everything on display either flies, drives, or runs—and the public is often invited to ride in them. Their collection spans over 100 operational vehicles, from early automobiles to historic airplanes, and their popular themed events invite visitors to get up close to the machines and the people who maintain them. They're also known for their live airshows, youth STEM programs, and an ever-growing reputation as one of the most interactive transportation museums in the country.

ADDRESS:
117 Museum St in Owls Head, ME

WEBSITE:
owlshead.org

photos by Tiffany Wolff