Bernard Fishman’s hobby could have collapsed his basement ceiling.

Though an individual stereoview image card weighs no more than a couple of ounces, Bernard Fishman’s collection of about 32,000 stereoview cards, catalogued in file cabinets, weighs so much he had to have his basement ceiling reinforced.

Fishman, who lives in Gardiner, was introduced to stereoview images when he received one as a high school graduation present and began collecting them when he was in college.

Stereoview cards were first produced in the mid-1800s. They consist of two nearly identical photos side-by-side, mounted on cardstock. When viewed through a handheld device called a stereoscope, the two images trick the human eye into viewing the subject as if it’s in three dimensions. 

Nowadays, digitized stereoview images can be viewed through 3D glasses.

When he isn’t working as the director of the Maine State Museum in Augusta, Fishman collaborates with fellow stereoview enthusiast George Mutter to digitize, catalogue, and preserve stereoview images taken in the late 19th and early 20th century. 

Fishman’s collection is one of the largest held by any individual in the United States. While his collection comprises images taken from all over the world, Fishman owns some images taken of Maine as well.

On June 23, Fishman will be presenting these images – together with many from the Maine State Historic Preservation Commission – at Greater Portland Landmarks’ fundraising event “Portland Unlocked.” At the event, held in the Portland Masonic Temple on Congress Street, Fishman will project about 70 3D images and share the stories and facts behind each one. The images, taken mostly from the late 1860s and 1870s, show daily life in historical Maine.

General admission, VIP, and raffle tickets can be purchased on Greater Portland Landmarks’ website. The raffle winner will have the chance to view the July 4 fireworks show at the top of the Portland Observatory.

Kate Lemos McHale, the executive director of Greater Portland Landmarks, said the event on Tuesday is the first of what they hope will be an annual series of fundraising events held in historic Portland buildings. The funds will go toward growing the nonprofit’s work in historical preservation advocacy and education.

“As we look to balance future preservation with the needed growth, a really important part of that is just making that history of the city more accessible,” said McHale.

“People have been really excited,” McHale said about the event, adding that, in addition to the 3D show, just visiting the historic Masonic Temple, which was built in 1911, is a special experience. 

Attendees can expect to take antique elevators, similar to the ones on the Titanic, up to the event in Drummond Auditorium.

“Every time people come in [the Masonic Temple] and I open a door and show them a room, their jaw hits the floor. It’s just an amazing place,” said Ken Caldwell, the general manager of the Masonic Temple.

To Fishman, McHale, and Caldwell, history isn’t just for history buffs. They seek to connect the general public with the joys learning about history can bring.

“There’s, for some reason, the notion that history is hard and it’s all full of dates and only strange people learn about it,” said Fishman. “It really can be fun.”

IF YOU GO

“Portland Unlocked,” Tuesday, Masonic Temple, 415 Congress St., Portland. Doors open for VIP ticket holders at 5 p.m., with tours and a reception at 5:30 p.m. Doors for general admission 6:30 p.m. “Historic Maine in 3D” presentation from 7-8 p.m. For more go to portlandlandmarks.org