AUGUSTA — On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Maine State Museum will open its doors free of charge as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 10th annual Museum Day Live!

In order to be admitted for free on Sept. 27, participants need only visit the website www.Smithsonian.com/museumdaylive to download a free ticket for two people and present it at the Maine State Museum. On that day, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Our visitors often think of the Maine State Museum as a kind of mini-Smithsonian,” said Museum Director Bernard Fishman. “This is a compliment to both institutions and makes our participation in Museum Day a good fit for the Maine State Museum. Both museums use objects from nature and culture to enhance understanding and knowledge, and convey the incredible richness and diversity of the many kinds of worlds that surround us.”

For more information and a list of participating museums and cultural institutions, visit www.Smithsonian.com/museumday/venues. A link to this site is included on the Maine State Museum’s website, www.mainestatemuseum.org, which contains additional information about the museum’s exhibits and programs.