Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 18, 2026, when the 47th annual Founder’s Day returns to support the Hamlin Library and Museum in Paris, Maine. This beloved charity event offers a rare opportunity to explore one of the region’s most extraordinary automotive treasures.
The crown jewel of Founder’s Day is The Bahre Collection of antique and classic cars, housed at the historic birthplace of Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s first vice-president. This remarkable collection opens its doors to the public just once a year, making this event truly special for automotive enthusiasts and history lovers alike.
Step inside to discover more than fifty magnificent vehicles, including one of the world’s finest assemblages of Packards. The Packard collection alone is breathtaking, featuring elegant Dietrich and LeBaron V-windshield body styles on Packard 12 chassis from 1932-34, a one-of-a-kind front-wheel-drive prototype sedan, a pristine 1906 Model S touring car, and other specialty Packards that showcase the marque’s legendary craftsmanship.
Beyond the Packards, you’ll encounter an impressive array of American classics including Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Stutz, and Graham-Paige vehicles. International automotive artistry is represented by stunning examples from Delahaye, Isotta Fraschini, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz, and Alfa-Romeo. The collection’s eclectic spirit shines through its fascinating variety: brass-era automobiles (including two electric cars), the legendary Tucker, a vintage Harley-Davidson, the original Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang II from 1921, and sleek later-model sports cars.
The automotive displays are just the beginning. The collection also features charming antique dolls and toys, elegant horse-drawn carriages, melodious player pianos, vintage phonographs, intricate table-top instruments, and a classic jukebox that will transport you to another era.
The festivities extend beyond the collection itself, with a vibrant crafts fair and delicious food vendors adding to the community atmosphere. Join us on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 AM to 5 PM on the scenic Paris Hill Green—the event proceeds rain or shine.
Admission donations are $15 for adults and just $2 for children 12 and under. Every dollar raised supports the vital work of the Hamlin Memorial Library and Museum, making your visit both enjoyable and meaningful.
For more information, contact the Hamlin Memorial Library at
[email protected], call 207-743-2980, or visit www.hamlin.lib.me.us.
