rufus porter museum and cultural heritage center

Rufus Porter, the founder of Scientific American Magazine, was also a painter and inventor -- a genuine polymath. The tiny house has Porter murals on several walls, a collection of John Brewster paintings and many Porter miniature watercolor portraits. Two good docents and a short film make the trip worthwhile. It was a great experience, found on Google.

If Bridgton, Maine, is on or near your route (!), be sure to visit this tiny gem of a museum. Rufus Porter was a polymath extraordinaire, being a musician, inventor, teacher, painter, editor, author, etc. He founded Scientific American, a periodical which is still going strong a century and a half later. But most of the interest in this museum is with his wall paintings, done in the first third of the 19th century, and with his miniature portraits, which he did very quickly with the aid of a camera obscura. The staff of the museum were helpful and very knowledgeable.

Rufus Porter (circa 1850) invented the revolver of which the Colts bought the rights from him. He published the "Scientific American", a magazine still sold today, was a teacher, mural painter, author, and invented an airship/blimp that he hoped would carry '49ers to the Calif. Gold Rush, and was the Martha Stewart of his day - doing it all! This teensy museum is devoted to him and his many accomplishments and has seasonal exhibits on the "rustic arts" where classes can be taken. The highlights are murals painted by him and his son that are displayed on the very walls from historic homes. A move to a larger, more stable building in town is planned for 2014(?) .Gift shop. No photos. Allow 1 hour minimum. $10.00 Adm. fee