Ogunquit Museum of American Art — Attraction in Ogunquit

The Ogunquit Museum is one of the great small museums in the US Northeast, and is a beautiful showcase of the long, rich tradition of significant 19th and 20th century artists who've made the Maine region home or placed it at the center of their work. My wife and I make a visit (or two) a high priority when we visit Ogunquit in the summer, and never fail to come away grateful for the experience. And that's to say nothing of the beautiful setting and view.

The shortcomings of a volunteer museum docent or a volunteer desk attendant on a given day can't be written off, but at the same time, the museum experience itself should not be condemned because of that. Otherwise you'd have a heckuva time finding a museum of any stature anywhere in the western world that hits the perfect mark 75% of the time.

And if someone's four-year old can do the equivalent of half of it, there's always the other half to enjoy...

This was the highlight of our impromptu trip to Maine. The facility is impressive, and the exhibits were provocative, beautiful, and inspiring. The sculpture garden and grounds are unparalleled, surprising, and stunning.

The “Where the Real Lies” from the Spaghetti Western Collection is not to be missed. It is one of the most groundbreaking shows we have seen in decades. Seeing this many incredible contemporary artists in one gallery at a time was an extreme treat.

We arrived at the museum on a foggy day in June and were astonished by its setting on a rocky inlet on the Atlantic Ocean. We could have, or rather, we did, stayed for hours taking photographs. We came back the next day to admire the plantings, the sculptures, and the site.

Maine is exceptionally lucky to have an institution as incredible as the Ogunquit Museum of...

Ya wouldn’t think this place was gonna be amazing because it’s a small town art gallery but the curatorial mindfulness showed and gallery professionalism was top tier. It’s a small space but the show was decent. Looks like they think about things regionally and have a dedicated programming staff. This is not a hokey commercial space selling ocean paintings. The only things for-sale was in the gift shop. These folks really care about what they are presenting and the space is glorious. The campus has a breathtaking view intertwined with a well designed sculpture garden overlooking the water. The gallery building itself is architecturally beautiful. It’s worth a visit just to hang out and sit on a bench. I can’t wait to return next time I’m travelling through...