The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) was created through a 2008 merger of two children’s organizations–both with deep roots in Portland and founded by the Junior League of Portland. CMTM includes the nation's oldest continuously operating children’s theatre, originally founded as the Children’s Theatre of Portland in 1923. Over eighty years later, in 2008, the Theatre merged with the Children’s Museum of Maine (which was founded in 1976).

For the past century, the staff of CMTM has designed and delivered multidisciplinary and experiential learning experiences for toddlers through teens with their families.

Prior to moving to Thompson’s Point, the Free Street location was the tenth largest visitor attraction in the State of Maine, annually serving over 106,000 visitors who came from every state in the country, as well as over 30 different nations. Organizational leaders dreamed of one day finding a permanent home for the museum and theatre that allowed both to flourish and weave together narrative, play, performance, and learning all under one roof. Launching a capital campaign, building and moving to a 30,000-square-foot new facility at Thompson’s Point, and creating a state-of-the-art theatre –all during a global pandemic–is just the latest chapter of this enduring, family-centered organization. The new Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine at Thompson’s Point is the realization of our community’s dreams and imagination and the product of 100 years and countless individual’s hard work to retain a precious community resource for current and future generations. We are grateful for a century of our community’s support. Thank you.

Archival Photos Documenting the History of CMTM (courtesy of the Portland Room of the Portland Public Library)