THE ARTS
Kennebec on Fire
In early 2019 Main Street Skowhegan received a Creative Communities = Economic Development Implementation (CCED) Grant from the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) to implement “Kennebec on Fire” in collaboration with our project partner, the Wesserunsett Arts Council (WesArts). The majority of grant funding was used for artist commissions, with the remaining funds being paid to Maine Wood Heat, a Skowhegan business that fabricated the bases.
“We are extremely excited to draw attention to our river, which has been the lifeblood of the community for so long, while at the same time further promoting Skowhegan and the region as a destination for cultural experiences, including outdoor recreation, local food, and of course the arts," said Kristina Cannon, Main Street's executive director. Kennebec on Fire highlights the arts and Somerset County's greatest natural asset, the Kennebec River, with five in-river sculptures and dramatic lighting events.
Sculptures & Artists
- Salmon Silhouettes, Artist: Steve Anderson (Norridgewock, Maine)
- Canned Corn, Artist: Jay Sawyer (Warren, Maine)
- Fire Vessel, Artist: Terrence Parker (South Berwick, Maine)
- Wheat Spire, Artist: Terrence Parker (South Berwick, Maine)
- Cone, Artists: W. Josiah Glover and Magdaleena Glover (Camden, Maine)
Lighting events coincide with RiverFest’s Dinner in the Park and several other surprise opportunities throughout the summer..
The Langlais Art Trail - A whimsical art walk
First a student and later a teacher at the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture during his lifetime, Bernard “Blackie” Langlais (1921-1977) was a prolific artist known for his impressionistic folk-art style and oversized sculptures made from scrap wood and found objects. The Langlais Art Trail stretches from the Rice Public Library in Kittery in the south to the University of Maine at Presque Isle in the north, from the Western Foothills Land Trust’s Roberts Farm Preserve in Norway to the Tides Institute & Museum of Art in Eastport.
In 2013 Main Street Skowhegan received 24 sculptures from Langlais’ Cushing, Maine, estate; 21 are currently on view in public locations throughout town.
Complementing Langlais’s iconic 62-foot Skowhegan Indian sculpture—which was erected in 1969 and dedicated to “the Maine Indians, the first people to use these lands in peaceful ways”—these 21 pieces provide an opportunity to experience a critical mass of Langlais artworks in one area. Residents and visitors are welcome to visit the various sculptures throughout town. Include map (see .pdf)
Lakewood Theater and Lakewood Inn Restaurant
Located amid pines and white birch on the shore of Wesserunsett Lake, Lakewood is the state theater of Maine and one of America’s oldest and most famous summer theaters. In its heyday, a who’s who of the silent screen, Broadway, film, and television passed through the backstage door, including Humphrey Bogart, Mama Cass Elliot, and John Travolta. Performance season is from May through September.
75 Theater Rd., Madison
Skowhegan Opera House
The Opera House is located on the second floor of the Municipal Building and was designed by John Calvin Stevens, a prolific and innovative architect who designed more than 1,000 buildings in Maine. The building is in the Beaux-Arts style and was built in 1907–1909. It is where the Town of Skowhegan holds its annual Town Meeting each year and where recitals, concerts, and plays are held.
225 Water St., Skowhegan
Spotlight Cinemas at The Strand
The Strand originally opened Nov. 18, 1929, and was fully restored in 2004. With delicious popcorn, stadium seating, a nostalgic feel, and a legend of a haunting, there's lots to love about this downtown cinema. Enjoy the show!
19 Court St., Skowhegan
HISTORY
L.C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley
Browse this historic natural history exhibit that includes fun local history, Wabanaki collections, rocks and minerals, and fossils, plus outdoor nature trails, picnic tables, and an arboretum. The museum has themed art exhibits from artists of New England each summer through fall.
14 Easler Rd., Hinckley
Margaret Chase Smith Library & Museum
This library and museum is devoted to preserving the legacy of Skowhegan native Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of the U.S. Congress and the first woman to be placed in nomination for President of the United States at a major party's convention. It houses political papers, documents, honors, photographs, and memorabilia from Smith’s 32-year congressional career.
56 Norridgewock Ave., Skowhegan
Norridgewock Historical Society & Museum
The Norridgewock Historical Society & Museum provides insight into the history of Norridgewock and the surrounding area. The collection includes Wabanaki artifacts, antique maps, personal items, armed forces uniforms and other historical garb, home industry of the 19th and 20th centuries, and more.
Mercer Rd., Norridgewock
Skowhegan Free Public Library
This historic library was opened in 1889, built with a bequest from the estate of former Governor, Abner Coburn. Its Civil War Memorial room and unique stained glass windows mark it as one of Maine's finest library buildings.
9 Elm St., Skowhegan
Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center
Built in 1839, this Greek revival cottage is replete with antiques, furnishings, and other items of everyday life in Skowhegan during the mid-1800s. A 1936 addition showcases a number of collections including town records dating to 1783, family histories, early Skowhegan newspapers, and the Alexander Crawford Jr. Civil War Collection. While you’re there, don’t forget to admire the ornamental heirloom gardens, which contain old-fashioned plants that would have been available to New England gardeners during the mid-1800s.
66 Elm St., Skowhegan