In 1944, the U.S. Government established Camp Houlton, a prisoner-of-war (POW) internment camp for captured German soldiers during World War II. Many of the prisoners worked on local farms planting and harvesting potatoes. Some created artwork and handicrafts they sold or gave to camp guards. Camp Houlton housed about 1,100 prisoners and operated until May 1946. 

Maine Memory Network is Maine’s digital museum administered by the Maine Historical Society with over 270 Contributing Partner institutions. The Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum in Houlton, a Maine Memory Network Contributing Partner since 2003, has 717 items and 13 exhibits online. In addition to holding an enormous archive about Aroostook County, their collections house images of the POW soldiers and artwork they created, which will be displayed as reproductions in the physical gallery exhibition. 

On view through December 31, 2021. Gallery admission is available through a timed ticket process. Make reservations at www.mainehistory.org.

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