AUGUSTA — Beginning Aug. 21, the Maine State Museum will expand its weekend hours by opening on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

In observance of that first Sunday opening, admission will be free.

The museum is also open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

“This is an important opportunity for Maine families, because Sunday is the only day that many families can get together to visit the State Museum,” director Joseph R. Phillips said.

“During the last session, the Maine State Legislature authorized these new hours as a pilot project to make the museum more accessible to Maine families and other visitors, he said.

“This may be a limited opportunity because the pilot project ends on Nov. 27,”  he said, adding, “We hope to demonstrate that expanded weekend hours will provide better services to more people so that we can receive authorization to continue these new hours next year.”

On view at the state museum is “Uncommon Threads: Wabanaki Textiles, Clothing, and Costume,” an exhibit of the beautiful, but little known textile arts of the native people of Maine, southeastern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. The exhibition includes pieces from museums and private collections throughout the United States, Canada and Australia — shown together for the first time. The exhibition will close on Sunday, Nov. 6.

For more information, call 287-2301 or visit www.mainestatemuseum.org.