Smithsonian Magazine has designated Saturday, April 4 as the 16th annual Museum Day, an initiative in which participating museums across the United States open their doors for free to those who download a branded ticket. This is a special year for the event as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of Smithsonian Magazine. Tickets became available March 2.

This year’s Museum Day is made possible by Lexus Curiosity Week, a celebration of curiosity as well as the innovation and progress that comes as a result of Lexus’ greatest inspiration: the driver.   

The annual event allows museums, zoos and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day. Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors—it acts as a springboard to empower and help advance the hopes and ambitions of the public, particularly school-aged children and those in underrepresented communities. It represents a national commitment to access, equity and inclusion.

The theme for this year’s event Earth Optimism, is a vision, a set of events, and a movement, to showcase a change in focus from the problem to solution, from a sense of loss to one of hope, in the dialogue about conservation and sustainability. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Smithsonian will host the 2020 Earth Optimism Summit in Washington, DC. (April 23 - April 25, 2020) which will showcase stories of both small- and large-scale actions that frame the conversation and demonstrate that success is possible.

“This is a big year for us at Smithsonian Magazine – it’s our milestone 50th anniversary. Museum Day is a national celebration of curiosity,” said Amy Wilkins, chief revenue officer at Smithsonian Media. “We are excited to have a partner like Lexus, which upholds the principle of inspiring curiosity, to collaborate with us on this momentous occasion.”

Museums in all 50 states have already signed up to participate in Smithsonian Magazine’s 2020 Museum Day, the largest event of its kind. More than 1,200 museums are expected to participate this year. 

In Maine: Abbe Museum, 26 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 228-3519. Two Wabanaki exhibits: “People of the First Light” and “Wolankeyutomon: A Collaboration Between Maritime Indigenous Artists, Inc. and the Abbe Musuem examining the protected waters sacred to the Wabanaki people.

Bowdoin College of Art, 9400 College Station, Brunswick. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 725-3275. Exhibits: Artist/Inventor Rufus Porter; Fashion Show/Slow Art. Contemporary artists and filmmakers explore the making-distribution of affordable, mass-produced clothing for quick consumption called “Fast Fashion.”

Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St., Kennebunk. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 985-4802. Exhibits: Cultural landscapes through the 20th century and a Student Art Show.

L.C. Bates Museum, 14 Easler Road, Hinckley. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 238-4250. An eclectic natural history and culture museum with unique exhibits, children's programs, and revolving art exhibits.

Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 774-1822. Art, artifacts, stories and documents.

Owl’s Head Transportation Musuem, 117 Museum St., Owls Head. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extensive collection of antique cars, planes, motorcycles .. and more!

Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 775-6148. Exhibits: “Carrie Moyer & Shiela Pepe: Tabernacles for Trying Times” and “Stories of Maine: An Incomplete History.”

Rufus Porter Museum, 121 Maine St., Bridgton. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 647-2828. Dedicated to the art, music and prose of Porter’s, the original publisher of “Scientific American” magazine.

Those wishing to attend and participate in Museum Day 2020 can visit Smithsonianmag.com/museumday to learn more and download a ticket beginning today. Each ticket grants the ticket holder and one guest free access to any participating museum on April 4. One ticket is permitted per email address. A list of participating museums, which will be continually updated, can be found at smithsonianmag.com/museumday/search.