The 47th annual Founder's Day - Hamlin Library and Museum

The 47th annual Founder's Day to support the Hamlin Library and Museum in Paris, Maine Saturday, July 18th, 2026 | Paris, ME | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM The showpiece of the charity event is The Bahre Collection of antique and Classic cars. The collection, housed at the birthplace of Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln's first vice-president, is open once a year to the public at the Founder's Day event. The collection of over fifty vehicles includes one of the world's finest assemblages of Packards. The Packard collection features Dietrich V-windshield body styles and LeBaron V-windshield body styles on the Packard 12 chassis for 1932-34, the one-off front-wheel-drive prototype sedan, a 1906 Model S touring car and other specialty Packards. The collection highlights American Classics such as Duesenbergs, Cadillac, Stutz, and Graham-Paige; foreign Classics such as Delahaye, Isotta Fraschini, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa-Romeo; and an eclectic grouping of brass-era cars (including two electric cars), a Tucker, a Harley-Davidson, the original Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang II from 1921, and later-model sports cars. Along with the vehicles there is an antique doll and toy collection, horse-drawn carriages, player pianos, old phonographs, table-top instruments and a jukebox. Lunch options are available and there will be a craft fair on the Village Green with vendors selling a variety of handcrafted items. Admission to the classic car exhibit is $15 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. All proceeds benefit the Hamlin Memorial Library & Museum. This is a rain or shine event held annually on the third Saturday in July. Contact: (207) 743-2980 Email: hamlinstaff@gmail.com View Event Flyer and Info Online: https://www.hamlin.lib.me.us/founders_day.html