The Third annual Cultural Heritage Series is scheduled for July 8 - 12, 2008 in Bridgton, Maine.  The series is highlighted by a 3-day class on Rufus Porter Style Mural Painting by Linda Carter Lefko and a full day class by Jacqueline Hansen on the Waldoboro Technique of Rug Hooking.  Other classes and workshops include Theorem Painting, Faux Finishes, Historic Quilt Repair, Folk Painting, Felting, Old Window Repair by Marc Bagala, Herbal Wreath Making with Betsey-Ann Golon, Herbal Remedies, Broom Making, Historic Embroidery Stitching, Introduction to Genealogy and Genealogy & the Internet by Pam Stone Eagleson, CGsm , and more.  Check or website for updates at www.rufusportermuseum.org.   

Registrations open for the series on November 1, 2007.  This can be done by mail to the Rufus Porter Museum, PO Box 544, Bridgton, ME 04009 or by telephone at 207-647-2828.  To be added to our mailing list, please email your name and address to rufusportermuseum@verizon.net.   

The Rufus Porter Museum, in operation for 3 years, will open its 2008 season on June 3.  As part of the 2008 Maine Folk Art Trail (www.MaineFolkArtTrail.org), we will have an outstanding exhibit of early 1800’s folk art.  The museum is housed in a house decorated with wall murals by Rufus Porter in 1828.  Other exhibits include an extensive collection of early Scientific American papers (Porter was the founder of this magazine), several miniature portraits by Porter, books by Porter, to name a few.   

There is also an additional exhibit of murals taken from the home of Francis Howe in Westwood, MA prior to the house being destroyed.  These murals, thought to be his finest work, are signed and dated by Porter and his son, Stephen Twombly Porter.