Museums of Rockland Maine

Rockland Maine, on Penobscot Bay, is not just about winter activities like Pie Parades and Chocolate Tours. These museums are sure to hold your interest.

The Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center has been an icon in Rockland since 1948. That’s Wyeth, as in N.C., Andrew and Jamie. The museum’s relationship with the Wyeths began in 1951 when it hosted the first public exhibition of Andrew’s paintings.

The museum has evolved from one building to four totaling twelve galleries. Its two historic houses are open to the public (summer); the Farnsworth Homestead an 1850’s Greek Revival home and, the Olson House, a 19th century saltwater farm featured in Andrew Wyeth’s work Christina’s World.

Housed in the museum are 7,000 works of art. Its permanent exhibit, Maine in America, consistis of works by some of America’s most important 19th century artists; Gilbert Stuart, Frank Benson, Thomas Cole, Fitz Henry Lane, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, and the Wyeths.

Upcoming exhibits for 2007 will include; The American Made Alphabet: Aerial Photographs by Margot Balboni; Factory Work: Warhol, Wyeth, Basquait; Andrew Wyeth at 90; Bo Bartlett: Still Point.

A must stop for lighthouse enthusiasts is the Maine Lighthouse Museum, a treasure trove of memorabilia. It has the largest collection of lighthouse lenses, artifacts and memorabilia in the United States.

Two miles from Rockland Maine, on Route 73, is the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum, home to an extraordinary collection of antique aircrafts, automobiles, and motorcycles dating from the early 1800’s to 1980.

Motorcycle enthusiasts will drool over the motorcycle collection that includes a Steffey motorcycle that dates back to 1901, a 1919 Harley Davidson, a 1938 Indian Scout and many other classic cycles.

Of their collection of twenty-eight vintage aircrafts the museums pride and joy is a reproduction of the 1903 Kitty Hawk that was flown by Wilbur & Orville Wright. There’s also an 1804 Cayley Glider, and a 1917 Fokker Dr. I Tri-plane, the type flown by Manfred Von Richthofen, the Red Baron of World War I fame.

Automobile classics include an 1885 Benz, a 1926 Ford Snowmobile and a 1963 Ford Mustang II convertible.

Near the museum is the Owl’s Head Lighthouse, built in 1825, it is still an active lighthouse. Climb the steps to its base for a gorgeous view over Penobscot Bay.