Portland Museum of Art

The Portland Museum of Art is the state oldest and largest art museum, and a smart pick on a foggy or rainy day. Founded in the nineteenth century, it sits at Congress Square in the center of the city and spans a group of buildings that includes a modernist main building, a neoclassical historic building and a restored federal-era house. The collection is strongest in American art with a Maine perspective, including major holdings of Winslow Homer, who painted some of his most powerful seascapes on the coast near Portland, as well as works by Marsden Hartley, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper and many others. It also includes European art and rotating exhibitions.

Winslow Homer is the museum signature. The painter spent his final decades at Prouts Neck in Scarborough, just south of Portland, and the museum holds his work and manages tours of his restored studio when available. Seeing paintings of surf, fishermen and cliffs and then driving to the coast brings the art to life. Marsden Hartley, born in Lewiston, is another Maine-linked modernist, and the museum also tells the story of the artists colonies that formed along the coast, with works by Rockwell Kent and other painters.

The architecture is part of the visit. The main building was designed by the firm of I. M. Pei and opened in the early 1980s, with a striking modern facade of brick and glass that echoes the surrounding streets. It joins the Beaux-Arts style Sweat Memorial Galleries and the federal-era McLellan House. Walking between them is a lesson in how Portland has grown. Check the museum site for current galleries, special exhibitions and any free admission days or hours, since policies change.

Plan about two hours for a general visit, longer if you like to read labels or have a special exhibition in mind. The museum has a cafe and shop, and the central location puts you a few minutes from the Old Port, the Arts District and many restaurants. Families will find activities and tours designed for children, and older visitors will appreciate the benches and elevators.

Combine the museum with Victoria Mansion for a day of art and interiors, or with a food tour for the afternoon. If you are interested in Homer, ask about the studio tour, which is limited and requires advance reservations. Purchase tickets online or at the door, and verify hours since most museums close one day a week.