Many of Central Maine’s museums and libraries will showcase Maine’s history, its people, its places and its economies through a series of events and exhibitions featuring historic photographs and artifacts this summer.

To kick off the events, former Maine Historic Preservation Commission Director and State Historian Earle Shettleworth will present an illustrated talk about the early regional photographer S.S. Vose at 7 p.m. Friday, July 15, at Fairfield Victor Grange and will be free to the public.

Those interested in the development of area cities and towns or the evolution of photography can visit these events at local museums to learn about the history of Central Maine: It’s People, Places and Economies.

The L.C. Bates Museum will exhibit the history of Goodwill Hinckley through early 20th-century glass lantern slides and their images from Saturday, July 16, through Thursday, Dec. 15. To learn more about the L.C. Bates Museum and this rare exhibit, call 238-4250 or email [email protected].

To learn about Maine’s vast industrial history, visit the Fairfield Historical Society where pictures of its rich industrial history and the businesses and people who lead them can be scene. For more information about the Fairfield Historical Society, call 453-2998.

To learn about Margret Chase Smith in her youth, visit the Margret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan. Visitors can see 76 photographs of Smith, her family, and her friends, as well as many other interesting and rare artifacts associated with her and her time. The fashions and recreation in rural Maine of that day and scenes from the prosperous mill town of Skowhegan also can be viewed. To learn more, call 474-7133 or visit mcslibrary.org.

Throughout the summer, the Norridgewock Historical Society will display rare photographs that highlight the historical fashion, homes, and granite history, as well as the Sawyer Prints. To learn more, call 634-5032 or email [email protected].

To learn about Fairfield’s Agricultural History, visit Fairfield Victor Grange 49. Visitors can see a depiction of what life was like on the small family farms and larger commercial farms through a collection of feature pictures, stories and memorabilia. Photos of the machinery, tools and equipment used to accomplish their everyday tasks are also on display. To learn more about Fairfield Victor Grange 49, call 453-9476.

To learn about Maine’s History through Photography, visit the Skowhegan History House to find enhanced images and period documents that reveal how small businesses and industry.

Old photographs will be on exhibit at the Taconnett Falls Genealogy Library in Winslow. Kay Marsh will talk about the dating of old photographs at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16. Feel free to bring yours along. Also, an exhibition of the applications and uses of photography and genealogy will be on display Saturday, July 16, through Aug. 17. To learn more, call 465-7458 or visit taconnett.maineroots.org.

Another place to visit to learn about Maine’s historical photography is the Oakland Historical Society, where visitors can learn about Alice Manter and her work as a photographer. The museum will be open with the post-card displays during its summer ice cream socials and R.B. Hall concerts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, (rain date Tuesday, July 26), and Tuesday, Aug. 16, (rain date Tuesday, Aug. 23). To learn more, call 649-4942 or email [email protected].

For more information about the Central Kennebec Heritage Council programs, contact the L.C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley at 238-4250 or [email protected]. The L.C. Bates Museum is on U.S. Route 201 in Hinckley, on the campus of Good Will-Hinckley. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and other times by appointment.