Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity

Mission: The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity celebrates the life, times, and legacy of a remarkable 19th Century New Englander through preservation and promotion of creativity and invention.

Founded in 2005, the Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, located in Bridgton, Maine, features the history of a remarkable 19th century New Englander, Rufus Porter (1792-1884).  Porter is well-known in the folk art community for his landscape murals and miniature portraits, however, Porter was more than just a painter.  He was the founding publisher and editor of the magazine Scientific American as well as inventor, writer, teacher and more. We are dedicated to capturing and sharing with the public Porter’s uniquely American blend of creativity, ingenuity, practicality, and energy by exploring the world and era in which he lived and worked. The museum's work includes permanent and temporary exhibits, programs and lectures, classes, and special events.