By Ted Cohen/The Maine Wire
A wealthy Maine philanthropist who quietly used his access and money to promote social good is being remembered by the region’s largest transportation museum.
James S. Rockefeller Jr., 99, who founded the Owls Head Transportation Museum 50 years ago, died recently at his Camden home.
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As the museum celebrates a half-century in operation, it's honoring Rockefeller, the big-name New Yorker who'd adopted Maine as his home.
Rockefeller donated his name, time and money to help put the antique-plane-and-car museum near his home on the map.
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“Jim’s involvement was very significant during the early years, from procuring the land to interactions with the local community,” said John Bottero, executive director.
Rockefeller was the great-grandnephew of both John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, iconic names engraved in America’s financial and cultural history.
Rockefeller in his memoir described his own life as privileged, in that he was “able to do pretty much whatever I wanted, but hopefully giving back a small part of what I have been given.”
The non-profit museum he originated exhibits historic transportation artifacts, even including bikes and motorcycles.
In the mid-1970s Rockefeller, former IBM chief Tom Watson Jr. and Steve Lang together envisioned such a museum.
Rockefeller served as its chairman until 2017 and remained a trustee until his death.
The majority of the Maine museum’s collection is operational, unlike static displays at many other such museums in the northeast.
The museum, amid a $12.25 million expansion, offers volunteer opportunities and science, technology, engineering and math-based (STEM) programs to young students at no cost.
