Winter Lecture Series

Each winter, we sponsor a series of public talks exploring how people and events helped shape New England into what it is today. Our 15th season of providing enriching experiences to our community from notable experts on various historic topics starts in January!

MARCH 2025 LECTURE POSTPONED UNTIL 2026
Matthew Jude Barker is a local expert who will discuss topics from his most recent work, “The Blue and the Green, The Portland, Maine Irish During the Civil War Era, 1845–1870.” He will bring to life an amazingly transformative era in Portland history, discussing events such as the Great Hunger, immigration, Neal Dow and prohibition, bootlegging and crime, the "Rum Riot,” the Know-Nothings and nativists, Irish occupations, abolition, the railroad, the Panic of 1857, the war years, the Fenians, the Great Fire of July 4, 1866, and the dedication of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, among many other topics.

We rely on donations and event ticket sales to fund our conservation efforts. Your donations are so appreciated. Some of you remember the lecture tip jar we keep on our welcome table next to the cookies! We also have a PayPal virtual tip jar: Donate to Spirits Alive today. Thank you!

Lecture Archives

We have been presenting public lectures that educate us on the history of our city, state, and country since 2008. Here is a listing of those who have participated as well as their lecture subject matter.