The Cole Land Transportation Museum’s educational mission is to collect, preserve and display a cross-section of Maine’s land transportation equipment from which this and future generations will gain knowledge of the past. The overall collection includes 200 antique land transportation vehicles and 2,000 photographs.
Choices
The railroading side at the museum is represented by one of the first Bangor & Aroostook diesel locomotives, a boxcar, a Maine Central Railroad caboose, a Canadian Pacific Railway section shack, and the relocated Enfield Station. Visitors can board the boxcar to watch videos about the various exhibits at the museum.
When to go
The museum is open seasonally, 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between May and November. Private tours and special events are also offered year-round. Check their website for more information.
Good to know
The caboose was originally built for the Western Maryland Railroad before being sold to the Maine Central in 1962 for multiple uses. This included working on the Woodland, Eastport, and Bucksport branch lines; the Bangor-Lincoln line; and the Old Town switcher runs. After being donated to the museum in 1988, the caboose was restored to its present condition.
Worth doing
In addition to the railroad collection, the Cole Land Transportation Museum contains multiple exhibits full of rich Maine transportation history. They include displayed farming equipment, motorcycles and bicycles, snowplows, and fire engines.
Don’t miss
Visit the World War II and Maine Vietnam Veterans Memorials, both located right next to the museum.
Getting there
The Cole Land Transportation Museum is located just off Perry Road near the interchange with Interstates 95 and 395. If traveling on Interstate 95, take Exit 182A and turn right onto Mecaw Road before taking a left on Perry with the museum on the right side. On Interstate 395, Exit 2 will take you onto Mecaw Road as well.
Location: 405 Perry Road, Bangor, ME
Phone: 207-990-3600
Website: colemuseum.org
E-mail: jmunson@colemuseum.org
