Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity

Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity celebrates the life, times, and legacy of a remarkable Open by appointment

2023 Season: June 10th - October 14th

Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, Bridgton, Maine
(207) 647-2828
[email protected]

Thank you for a great 2022 season!

Last but certainly not least, the RPM is thrilled to introduce Eileen Tidd, our incredible Museum Membership & Administ...
08/29/2026

Last but certainly not least, the RPM is thrilled to introduce Eileen Tidd, our incredible Museum Membership & Administrative
Coordinator!
Eileen brings years of experience in administration, customer service, and education to the museum. From welcoming guests at Migis Lodge to supporting students in local schools, she’s always enjoyed working with people and helping things run smoothly.
At the museum, Eileen keeps our membership program and office operations on
track, helping make ensure our members feel connected and appreciated along the
way. She also compiles the Events Calendar for Bridgton Living Magazine, helping keep the local community in the know about what’s happening around town.
We’re so lucky to have Eileen on our team!

Thank you all for celebrating our wonderful staff in our week of introductions! Though the summer is winding down, we have plenty of events planned for the rest of our season, and would love to see you there!

Up next in our week of introductions is our wonderful Christine Devereux! Christine serves as the Events and Education M...
08/28/2026

Up next in our week of introductions is our wonderful Christine Devereux! Christine serves as the Events and Education Manager, and the museum is thrilled to have her join us this year. With a career rooted in the belief that knowledge should be accessible to everyone, Christine is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community culture that celebrates both local history and modern innovation.

At the museum, Christine is the primary architect of public programming, where she bridges the gap between the community and specialized experts. Her work is centered on creating engaging platforms for discovery, most notably through the Ingenuity Speaker Series and the Saturday Morning Makers workshops. Whether she is coordinating with a local luthier to explore the intersection of acoustics and artistry or arranging a deep dive into the history of silent movie posters, her goal remains constant: to provide neighbors with direct access to unique skills and thought-provoking dialogue.

Christine’s passion for community connection extends to the next generation through her development of the museum's educational outreach and school field trip programs. By collaborating with local educators and artisans, she ensures the museum serves as a dynamic "maker space" where curiosity has no barriers.

Prior to her current role, Christine served as the Assistant Director of Education at Pineland Farms, where she built foundational group visit programs. Today, she brings that same spirit of ingenuity to the Rufus Porter Museum, finding her greatest professional fulfillment in facilitating those rare, meaningful connections between curious minds and the experts who inspire them. When she is not at the museum, Christine lives in Casco with her husband and three dogs.

Our Night at the Museum is in one week!Come join us at 6pm on Thursday September 3rd, to enjoy a talk by our Curator on ...
08/28/2026

Our Night at the Museum is in one week!

Come join us at 6pm on Thursday September 3rd, to enjoy a talk by our Curator on the evolution of light in the United States, from candles and oil lamps, to gas lamps and electricity. Together, we will explore the material culture of lighting and the ways in which the American home changed throughout the 19th century. These objects will be on display for you to touch and investigate yourselves!

Following the talk, we will turn off our modern electric lights as the sun sets outside, allowing a range of candles and oil lamps to light the way. Enjoy an evening absorbing the 19th century ambience and seeing the wall murals in our care through the lens of the past.

🎟️ Members: Free
🎟️ Non-members: $5
Tickets available on our website or in our Museum Store.
👉 www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

🗓️ Thursday September 3, 6pm
📍 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME

Up next on our week of introductions is our fantastic Daniel Dinsmore! Dan serves as the Executive Director of the Rufu...
08/26/2026

Up next on our week of introductions is our fantastic Daniel Dinsmore! Dan serves as the Executive Director of the Rufus Porter Museum of Art & Ingenuity, a dual leadership role he has held alongside his position as Executive Director of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation since June 2024.

Dan brings over 30 years of experience across nonprofit executive management, philanthropy, publishing, and journalism. His career has focused on storytelling, civic engagement, and organizational sustainability — having previously served as Vice President of News & Audience at the Bangor Daily News, Executive Director & Publisher at the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting (The Maine Monitor), and an editor at the Portland Press Herald. He also spent seven years in executive management at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Driven by a passion for preserving Maine’s rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage, Dan works to advance the museum’s mission of celebrating the legacy of Rufus Porter — a classic American polymath, artist, and inventor. Dan lives in nearby Casco with his wife, four children, and their three dogs.

The RPM feels very lucky to have Dan, and we are so grateful for all of his hard work!

As many of you may have noticed, the Rufus Porter Museum has recently grown its staff! This week, we will be posting int...
08/25/2026

As many of you may have noticed, the Rufus Porter Museum has recently grown its staff! This week, we will be posting introductions for all of our delightful staff members ✨

Yesterday you met our fabulous new curator, Jessie. Today, we would love to formally introduce our beloved Museum Dog, Eunice! Named after Rufus Porter's first wife, Eunice Twombly, this sweet girl is just 6 months old. Eunice spends the majority of her time sleeping, but has a variety of other duties at the museum, including being fed treats, and proof reading social media posts such as this one. While she is still in training, you might not see Eunice during your trip to the museum, but know she is likely hard at work upstairs (sleeping).

We are thrilled to introduce our first full-time Curator here at the Rufus Porter Museum: Jessie Burchett. Jessie spends...
08/25/2026

We are thrilled to introduce our first full-time Curator here at the Rufus Porter Museum: Jessie Burchett. Jessie spends their time working on a wide array of museum projects from exhibition research and curation, to collections management and community engagement. We feel extraordinarily lucky to welcome Jessie onto our team, as she brings her unique blend of social history and material culture expertise to our campus.

Having completed her Bacherlor's degree in Historical Archaeology at the University of York, England, Jessie went on to work with a number of cultural institutions throughout England, including Sir John Soane's Museum in London. In 2024, she moved to Cooperstown, New York, to pursue her Master's degree in Museum Studies. After graduating in May this past year, she now joins us as Curator, bringing with her a love for hunting down new evidence to better understand our shared past.

After visiting Maine for a number of years, the surrounding nature and sense of community convinced Jessie and her husband to purchase a c.1800 farmhouse in Waterford in 2024. When she isn't fixing up her house or fallen down a research rabbit hole, she can be found swimming in the lake, traversing antique stores, or hiding away with a good book.

🕯️ Ever wondered what painted walls looked like in the 19th century? Join our new Curator, Jessie Burchett, for a Night ...
08/21/2026

🕯️ Ever wondered what painted walls looked like in the 19th century? Join our new Curator, Jessie Burchett, for a Night at the Museum to find out!

🌠 A Night at the Museum welcomes you to step back into the 19th century and explore the iconic painted walls of Rufus Porter and Jonathan D. Poor by firelight. Beginning with a talk by our Curator, Jessie Burchett, we will delve into the history of light, tracing a timeline of invention from candles to oil lamps and gas lighting to the electric light. As the sun sets, we will invite you to walk through our muraled rooms with only candles and oil lamps lighting the way, experiencing these spaces as they would have been when the murals were freshly painted.

🎟️ Members: Free
🎟️ Non-members: $5
Tickets available on our website or in our Museum Store.
👉 www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

🗓️ Thursday September 3, 6pm
📍 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME

Dont miss out! There are only a few seats left for this Saturday's English Paper Piecing Workshop lead by our fabulous D...
08/20/2026

Dont miss out! There are only a few seats left for this Saturday's English Paper Piecing Workshop lead by our fabulous Dianne Barth! 🌷

In this workshop, Dianne will lead attendees through the entire hand-piecing process: from preparing your fabric and templates to the essential whip-stitch technique used to join your pieces into precise, intricate geometric patterns.
Not sure about your levels of "craftiness"? No worries! This workshop is sutable for those of all skill levels - from the eager novice, to the expert quilter, everyone is sure to have a blast!🎉

🎟️ Members: $25
🎟️ Non-members: $30
(materials included in price!)
Tickets available on our website or in our Museum Store.
👉 www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

🗓️ Saturday August 22, 10am - 1pm
📍 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME

💐Don't miss out!!! There are still spaces available in tomorrow's ceramics pop-up workshop! Our talented instructor, Re...
08/14/2026

💐Don't miss out!!! There are still spaces available in tomorrow's ceramics pop-up workshop! Our talented instructor, Renee Norwood, will lead the class in the art of glazing- helping you create a whimsical, one of a kind garden masterpiece!🌼

🎟Members: $25
🎟Non-Members: $30

Reserve your spot online through our website, or simply click the link below!
www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

Missed the last workshop? No problem! Another Saturday Morning Makers is coming your way 🌻On Saturday August 22nd, disco...
08/12/2026

Missed the last workshop? No problem! Another Saturday Morning Makers is coming your way 🌻

On Saturday August 22nd, discover the timeless technique of English Paper Piecing with Diane Barth 🪡

This traditional quilting method uses paper templates to stabilize fabric shapes before stitching them together. In this workshop, you will learn the basics, from preparing your fabric and templates to the essential whip-stitch technique used to join your pieces into precise, intricate geometric patterns. Whether you are a beginner looking to start a new quilting project or an experienced maker interested in the meditative pace of hand-piecing, this class will provide the skills and confidence to create. All supplies will be provided!

🎟️ Members: $25
🎟️ Non-members: $30
Tickets available on our website or in our Museum Store.
👉 www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

🗓️ Saturday August 22, 10am - 1pm
📍 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME

Address

121 Main Street
Bridgton, ME
04009

Telephone

(207) 647-2828

Website

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