Unlike during Prohibition, whiskey - and history - lovers attending Boothbay Railway Village Museum’s first Speakeasy Night at the Museum Nov. 13 won’t need to know a special knock or password to enter the speakeasy-esque Town Hall.

In 1846, Maine passed the first laws in the country to make the sale of alcohol illegal except for industrial and medicinal purposes. Maine during Prohibition kicks off the new winter series at BRVM, the first in a series of programs.

Speakeasy night runs from 6 through 8:30 p.m. Local historian and attorney Chip Griffin will speak to this highly colorful period in Boothbay Region history. Mike Morrissette, owner of Marcel’s Submarine Shop and Whiskey Bar, will talk about the history of whiskey and the innumerable varieties, and what makes for a fine sipping experience. Morrissette has selected these four brands (from among the 300 whiskeys from his bar) to sip: Blanton’s, The Original Single Barrel Bourbon, with its notes of caramel and vanilla; Weller, the Original Wheated Bourbon, Special Reserve; Eagle Rare, 10 Year- Kentucky Straight Bourbon; and Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

“The choices were based off of what’s popular now and some hard to find whiskeys, like the Blanton’s and Weller’s, which are the most coveted bourbons in the world right now,” shared Morrissette. In addition to the whiskeys, he will be serving bites and flights from the Marcel’s menu.

Whitney Lytle, BRVM’s director of curation and education, said she and Executive Director Steve Markowitz have been talking about having a moonshine shack on the grounds for a while now.

“One of my goals is to hold different events here even when the Village is closed for the season. People love to come to evening events at museums. It’s sort of a new normal. (The Village) covers the mid 19th century through the mid 20th century and that includes some of those Prohibition years. It was a no-brainer! I thought why not a speakeasy night? They happened for 82 years in Maine!”

Lytle said the next event will continue the Speakeasy/Prohibition theme and, as for after that, we’ll have to stay tuned. “Chip and Mike have some great history and stories to share, it will be a fun night!,” said Lytle.

And a fun night with atmosphere at that! The Town Hall will have a definite speakeasy atmosphere created with artifacts from the BRVM collections, a purchased sill, old bottles, and staged areas depicting bootlegging practices; and vintage signage and photographs, mostly from the Maine Memory Network and Maine Historical Society, will adorn the walls.

Lytle noted one photograph of a confiscated Victrola that had been altered to hide moonshine. This, she said, is an example of a scene BRVM hopes to create.

“We had been throwing ideas around about what we need to be doing at the Village. Sometimes you just need a little whiskey to get things to come together,” said Lytle.

Speakeasy Night at the Museum tickets are $60 per person for this over 21, adults only, event and must be purchased in advance at https://railwayvillage.org

The Museum is at 586 Wiscasset Road in Boothbay.