What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Wendell Gilley Museum

Name: Wendell Gilley Museum
Address: 4 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor, ME, 04679, US
Telephone: +12072447555
Price range: $

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Wendell Gilley Museum

We Bring People Closer to Nature Through Art...
with select pieces of Wendell Gilley's work and others from our permanent collection, plus visiting exhibits.

We offer demonstrations, classes and events of all kinds to bring people together. The Wendell Gilley Museum celebrates the life and work of Wendell Gilley, a pioneer in the field of decorative bird carving. We teach the art of bird carving; and present art exhibitions, programs and events with a special focus on People, Nature, and Art to inspire appreciation of the visual arts, engagement in artistic creativity, and respect and care for the natural world.

08/21/2026

Last chance!
Our summer exhibit "Water Proof: Maine Artists Reflect on Their Environment" closes at the end of the day on Saturday, Aug. 22. The Gilley is open from 10am to 4pm that day, with last entry at 3:pm. Don't miss your chance to see this great art.

08/18/2026

“My interest in art evolved simultaneously with my interest in nature, especially birds, and such subject matter remains at the core of my work today,” says artist and dioramist Sean Murtha.
He'll be a the Gilley TONIGHT, Tuesday Aug. 18 for a 6pm reception and 7pm program about his stunning images of wild landscapes and birds. The program is also livecast and all is free. Sign up at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/calendar

08/17/2026

Join us for this opportunity to meet and talk with a masterful nature artist Sean Murtha on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at the Gilley!

Throughout his life, Sean Murtha’s interest in science and nature never waned, even as he pursued a degree in art. In fact, science and nature usually formed the basis for his artwork. In 1995, five years after he earned an MFA in painting from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., he found the perfect marriage of art and natural science when he began working for the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. There he learned the art of diorama background painting, a rare skill he continues to use at museums to this day.
“My interest in art evolved simultaneously with my interest in nature, especially birds, and such subject matter remains at the core of my work today,” Murtha says.
The Wendell Gilley Museum welcomes him on Tuesday, Aug. 18 as the People-Nature-Art presenter for the month. There will be an in-person artist’s reception at 6 p.m. at the Gilley, followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. that will happen in person, and livecast online simultaneously. Admission is free but registration is required. Sign up at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/calendar.

08/05/2026

We at the Gilley were so sad to hear of the recent passing of Dan Miller, whose show "Dan Miller : Going with the Grain" was featured at the museum November 1, 2024 - May 3, 2025. It was a great hit with visitors, museum members and school children. A master printmaker and long-time faculty member at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, he spent most of the last 60 summers in Corea, Maine, where he continued his daily art practice making woodcut prints in the mornings and wood sculptures in the afternoons into his late 90s. We send condolences to his family and warm remembrance and appreciation of his art.

07/30/2026

Excited to welcome artist and dioramist Sean Murtha to the Gilley Aug. 18 as the Museum's People-Nature-Art presenter.
Throughout his life, Sean Murtha’s interest in science and nature never waned, even as he pursued a degree in art. In fact, science and nature usually formed the basis for his artwork. In 1995, five years after he earned an MFA in painting from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., he found the perfect marriage of art and natural science when he began working for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. There he learned the art of diorama background painting, a rare skill he continues to use at museums to this day. He also creates art in his studio and in the field, with an emphasis on birds and their habitats.
Join us Aug. 18 for a 6pm artist's reception and 7pm program. Free and fabulous but registration is required at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/calendar

07/27/2026

Alex Turanski came to the Gilley all the way from Penobscot to practice for his live demo tomorrow, Tuesday July 28, when he'll create several stone-stack sculptures in the Gilley's main gallery as part of his People-Nature-Art presentation. Reception is at 6pm, presentation and demo begin at 7pm. Free but registration required at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org. Online option available.

07/25/2026

Today at the Gilley ... renowned children's author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand is with us for an author talk co-sponsored by the Southwest Harbor Public Library at 3pm. He'll be talking about his journey as a storyteller in words and pictures, his newest books, his life as a writer. Free and fabulous. Join us!

07/10/2026

The Wendell Gilley Museum is waiving admission fees all day on Saturday, July 11, in honor of the Flamingo Festival in Southwest Harbor this weekend, and the Gilley’s own 45th anniversary on Sunday, July 12. The Gilley opened its doors for the very first time, with Wendell and Addie Gilley as special guests, on July 12, 1981.

Enjoy pink lemonade, pink-frosted cookies, and free admission to see the art, do the activities, and enjoy all the Gilley has to offer, and do it all for free.

07/08/2026

Openings in the July 9 class and offered most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the summer.
Learn the basic techniques of decorative woodburning at the Gilley! Using a pen-like burning tool, you'll start by practicing mark-making techniques to explore options and possibilities with the wood burner. Then you'll create an image of a feather by copying a design from nature or making up your own design. All materials provided. Students must be at least 8 years old. Cost is $30 for museum members and $37 for non-members. Sign up at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/calendar

Address

4 Herrick Road
Southwest Harbor, ME
04679

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12072447555

Website

http://www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/

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