Ogunquit Museum of American Art
Museum Coastal museum focusing on American modern art
Coastal museum in Ogunquit, Maine, with collections of American modern art and a sculpture garden; visitors pair gallery visits with nearby beaches and seasonal exhibitions.
The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is a museum in Ogunquit, Maine, founded in 1953 and devoted to American painting and sculpture. It occupies a coastal site with indoor galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden overlooking the Atlantic.
The collection and rotating exhibitions cover 19th- to 20th-century American art alongside contemporary works, and the sculpture garden places artworks on lawns and paths that face the ocean. The facility is small-to-medium in scale and is oriented to regional visitors and museum-goers.
The museum was established in the mid-20th century by local artists and patrons to display American art and to support the Ogunquit art community. Over time it has expanded exhibition space and developed the outdoor sculpture displays to take advantage of the coastal setting.
It sits on a bluff above the shoreline in Ogunquit, within easy walking distance of the town center and the Marginal Way coastal path.
- Founding date: Opened in 1953, the museum focuses on American art and has both indoor galleries and an ocean-facing sculpture garden.
- Location tip: The museum sits within walking distance of the Marginal Way coastal footpath and Ogunquit Beach, making it easy to combine with other local attractions.
What to See #
- Sculpture garden: Located on a coastal bluff in Ogunquit, the sculpture garden contains outdoor works sited to take advantage of ocean views and seasonal plantings.
- Galleries: Indoor galleries house the museum's permanent collection and temporary exhibitions of American painting and sculpture dating from the 19th century to the present.
How to Get to Ogunquit Museum of American Art #
The museum is in Ogunquit, Maine. From Interstate 95 take US-1 to the town; Shore Road (Route 1A/parking signs) leads directly to the museum’s site. The nearest larger airports are Portland (about 40 miles) and Boston (about 90 miles). Local seasonal shuttles and taxis serve Ogunquit in summer.
Tips for Visiting Ogunquit Museum of American Art #
- Pair a museum visit with the nearby Marginal Way cliff walk for a complete Ogunquit day.
- Time a visit for late morning to catch light in the galleries; the sculpture gardens are best seen in calm weather.
- Check the museum's rotating exhibitions-local modernist and American realist works appear unpredictably.
Best Time to Visit Ogunquit Museum of American Art #
Open-season runs mainly from late spring through early autumn; summer offers the fullest exhibition programming.