AUGUSTA — The last three sardine cans packed in America, along with related historical artifacts and photographs from the recently closed Stinson Seafood plant in Prospect Harbor, headline a new exhibit at the Maine State Museum.

“The museum has exhibited historical sardine cannery and herring fishery materials for many years. These last three cans and the other material from Stinson’s really help us round out the significant story of sardine canning in Maine history and culture,” said historic collections curator Kate McBrien.

The “End of the Line … America’s Last Sardine Cannery” exhibit, located in the lobby, also features two videos showing excerpts from “The Sardine Show,” produced by the University of Maine Television Services for the Maine Sardine Council in the 1980s, and “Canned,” a documentary of the last days at Stinson Seafood by J Holt and Madeleine Pryor, students at The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

The exhibit will be on view through Sept. 4.

On Saturday, July 31, the museum will host “All About Sardines,” a free event featuring music by Roll and Go of Portland, a sea chantey singing group, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; a poetry reading by Gary Lawless and Karin Spitfire, 11 a.m; and a talk, “Seafood and Sardines in the New England Diet,” by food historian Sandra Oliver, 11:30 a.m.

Throughout the day from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. a recipe board for posting and swapping sardine recipes will be set up and there will be hands-on activities for children.

The Maine State Museum is adjacent to the State House. It is open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 287-2301 or visit www.mainestatemuseum.org.