LEWISTON — Museum L-A’s largest exhibit in its Portraits & Voices series will shine the spotlight on generations of workers in Lewiston-Auburn’s shoe industry — both past and present.

A photo collage titled “The Many Faces of Shoemaking” features 52 framed portraits of shoeworkers, paired with their oral histories. More will be added to the yearlong “Shoemaking Skills of Generations” exhibit beginning with a reception on Saturday, Sept. 25, when attending shoeworkers will be photographed.

The reception will run from 4 to 6 p.m. The museum’s galleries will be open free of charge.

Oral historian Andrea L’Hommedieu and documentary photographer Mark Silber, Ph.D., worked together to provide the text and photos for the exhibit celebrating Lewiston and Auburn’s rich history and present-day legacy in shoemaking.

At one time, Auburn was one of the largest producers of shoes in the nation. Local people built an industry that continues to produce world-famous shoes today.

As part of the exhibit, a time line begins in the year 1824 and documents the history of shoemaking in the Twin Cities. Through photos and text, visitors can follow the steps involved in shoemaking and welt-book making, and learn about the “cottage industry” of shoemaking at home.

For the first time, Museum L-A will provide oral histories online at www.museumla.org. There will also be two computer touch-screen kiosks where museum visitors can share their stories interactively online. In addition, DVD productions of the art and technology of shoemaking will be available in the museum’s multimedia room.

A corner of a gallery will be turned into a Lamey Wellehan shoe store of long ago. Visitors will be able to measure their feet and check out a model of the shoe size worn by such notables as U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins.

Museum visitors will be able to purchase a shoe last with an inscribed tag that will become part of one of the exhibit’s art installations. The cost will be $50 with all proceeds going to fund exhibit-related programs and workshops.

Museum L-A is at 35 Canal St. in the Bates Mill Complex at Canal and Chestnut streets. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 333-3881.