History of Museum L-A

Museum L-A is a private 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1996, by local attorney Elliott Epstein at the close of the City of Lewiston’s Bicentennial celebration, in order to fulfill the Bicentennial’s goal of creating a permanent memorial to local history. Primarily run and driven by volunteers during the first decade, early work consisted largely of salvaging and preserving industrial artifacts from closing businesses. The first paid staff joined in 2004 and Museum L-A has gradually increased over the years in both staffing and services offered – now sustaining a variety of full time positions supporting growing numbers of programs and events.

During this time the Museum has been generously housed in the first two buildings of the Bates Mill Complex. Recently, the creation of a Conceptual Master Plan has allowed the board, staff, and volunteers to move forward with the clarity of vision to develop the museum into a regional center of learning, community connections, and cultural preservation.