Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity

Name: Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity
Address: 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME, 04009, US
Telephone: (207) 647-2828
Price range: $

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Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity

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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!

10/10/2026

And just like that, we've reached the end of the season. Join us today, Saturday October 10th, for our last day of regular opening hours here at the Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity.

Thank you to everyone, new and returning, who visited this season to enjoy our exhibits and programs. YOU are the ones who make this museum possible. We are so glad to be part of such a vibrant community, and are already counting down the days to next year....although keep your eyes out for some fun, off season programming!

We would also like to extend a special thank you to our incredible team of volunteers, docents, and board members for their hard work and dedication to the museum's mission.

10/09/2026

Another look at the mural restoration work that Jessie and Hanna helped with in Reading, MA, last week! This is just a small portion of the piece, which spanned the two story stairwell in the house. The contact paper, though tricky to remove, causes significantly less damage than wall paper. The mural itself was fairly well preserved, despite two centuries of occupancy in the house.

10/08/2026

Last Thursday, Jessie and Hanna had the opportunity to travel down to Reading, MA, to assist a group of conservators, including Wenda Kochanowski, in uncovering an original Rufus Porter Mural.

Though many murals in the Massachusetts have been documented, including another in North Reading, this specific work was previously undocumented. The mural, which we believe to have been painted in the 1830s, features a series of Porter designs and stencils. This array of designs includes incredibly rare motifs such as the running dog and couple walking, which we were ecstatic to uncover.

Our staff helped with the removal of contact paper on the mural, located in the stairwell of an 1790s house slated for demolition. This involved working diligently and delicately to peel contact paper from the painted plaster, using mineral spirits to dissolve the contact paper glue.

Thank you to for some of the up-close mural photos.

10/03/2026

On Tuesday, members of our staff visited the Bethel Historical Society, getting an in-depth look at the Jonathan Poor Murals. These murals, in MBHS’s Mason House, are an excellent example of murals “in situ”. Do you recognize the stencils? Some of our murals feature the very same stencil work, a staple in the Porter school of mural design!

The Mason house, constructed in 1813, is only one piece of the Bethel Historical Society’s Campus, which consists of two historic buildings and a research center. Our staff were thrilled to receive a full tour of both buildings and research center. We feel so lucky to have MBHS as our neighbor, and absolutely recommend a visit to their campus!

09/30/2026

The weather may not be beautiful today, but our murals sure are! Take a break from the gloom and stop in to our galleries! 🖼️

09/26/2026

Oh my gourd-ness, Can you believe how beautiful these gourd-houses are?🍂
🌻Today's Saturday Morning Makers workshop was an absolute BLAST!! Thank you to all our participants and our incredible instructor, Debi Turney, for making today so great! 🌻
🍁Interested in seeing what else we have in store this year? Check out our events page!
https://www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

09/25/2026

Our next Ingenuity Speaker Series is coming up!

Join us on Thursday, October 8th for an exclusive look inside one of football’s greatest dynasties. We are thrilled to welcome Maine Press Association Hall of Fame journalist Mike Lowe, who spent 40 distinguished years as a sportswriter for the Portland Press Herald. Mike will share captivating stories and behind-the-scenes insights from his 20 years on the Patriots beat, covering the Bill Belichick era through seven memorable Super Bowl runs. Now retired and living in S**o with his wife, Tracie, Mike continues to share his love for local stories as a part-time writer for Bridgton Living magazine. Don't miss this opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from a legendary voice in Maine sports journalism!

🎟️ Members: Free
🎟️ Non-members: $5
Purchase online 👉 https://www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

🗓️ Thursday October 8, 2026 - 5 p.m.
📍 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME

09/19/2026

We had an absolute BLAST at Thursday nights speaker series featuring the lovely Price Hutchins. 📽 Thank you to everyone who attended the event!

09/18/2026

We just wanted to take a second and highlight a program that our lovely neighbors, the Magic Lantern Theater, are putting on!!! Visit the Magic Lantern tomorrow night for a fantastic evening celebrating youth filmmakers!! 🎬🎥🍿

09/16/2026

There's an exciting new class coming your way next month!

With local artist, Anna Low, come join us to learn a traditional hand-sewn bookbinding style - the Japanese Stab Binding. This binding is a decorative and versatile way to sew together a book. In class you’ll make several books, binding together page paper with decorative covers. You’ll leave class with your own beautiful books plus instructions and skills to continue making more.

All supplies and light snacks will be provided!

🎟️ Members: $45
🎟️ Non-members: $50
Purchase online 👉 https://www.rufusportermuseum.org/events/

🗓️ Saturday October 17, 2026 | 10am - 1pm
📍 121 Main Street, Bridgton, ME

Photo credit: Bitty Books that Anna Low creates - you can find them at Purplebean Bindery on Instagram, Facebook, and Etsy!

Address

121 Main Street
Bridgton, ME
04009

Telephone

(207) 647-2828

Website

http://rufusportermuseum.org/

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