Arts & Culture
Discover the amazing beauty of the Rangeley Region! It's famous for its breathtaking scenery and exciting outdoor activities that you can enjoy all year long. But there's even more to love – the Rangeley Region is a hub of artistic talent too. The stunning natural surroundings inspire local artists, and they also draw in artists from around the world.
As the seasons change, the landscapes transform into vibrant displays of color in the fall and get covered in sparkling snow in the winter. And guess what? No matter the time of year, you can always explore one-of-a-kind artworks at a nearby gallery. Come experience the magic of art and nature in the Rangeley Region!
Performing Arts in the Rangeley Region
The Rangeley Friends of the Arts (The RFA) brings the Arts to Life! Looking to catch a concert, comedian or a classical theatrical show? The RFA brings local theatre productions to life offering popular and classic musicals, dramas and comedies for locals and visitors, while the popular Annual Rangeley Health & Wellness Benefit Concert draws hundreds to the Rangeley Health & Wellness Pavilion every summer.
Arts & Crafts
Art galleries can be found throughout the Rangeley Lakes Region and the surrounding area. From painting, photography and sculptures to jewelry and glass – something unique and intriguing is always on exhibit somewhere nearby. And don't forget to take the Barn Quilt Trail tour which not only gives you a leisurely drive through the countryside but displays some extraordinary Barn Quilts.
Check out a few local galleries:
- Rangeley Friends of the Arts - Lakeside Contemporary Art Gallery
- Birds of a Feather Gallery
- Nick Leadley Nature Photography
- Snow Source
Historic Rangeley
Historic Rangeley, also known as the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society, preserves the region’s history and engages the public through its museums, collections, programs, exhibits, and events. To fulfill its mission, Historic Rangeley offers the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc Village, the Rangeley History Museum in downtown Rangeley, and numerous programs.
Outdoor Heritage Museum - 8 Rumford Rd Oquossoc, ME 04964 - (207) 864-3091
The Outdoor Heritage Museum shares the unique history that has made the Rangeley region one of the premier outdoor destinations in America. The Museum’s treasures will surprise you as you become immersed in the stories of Rangeley icons like Carrie Stevens, Herb Welch, Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby and many others via artifacts, vintage film, and art.
Summer Hours - July & August: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shoulder Season Hours - May, June, September & October*: Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM *through October 20th
Rangeley History Museum - 2472 Main St., Rangeley, ME 04970- (207)864-3091
The Rangeley History Museum shares the stories of the pioneering families who created a town by logging the forests and building farms in the boulder-strewn wilderness. You will learn how this rough and tumble existence transformed into Rangeley’s “Gilded Age” of grand hotels, steamboats and legendary sporting camps.
Hours - July & August: Saturday & Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Other Museums in the Rangeley Lakes Region
Maine Forestry Museum - 221 Stratton Rd. Route 16 Dallas Plantation, ME 04970 - (207) 864-3939
Centrally located between the headwaters of both the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, Rangeley has long been one of Maine's logging centers. The Maine Forestry Museum boasts an extensive collection of logging artifacts collected over 40 years that include a captivating art collection, including carvings, dioramas, oil paintings, photographs, original logging documents, manual and heavy equipment from primitive logging operations, and chainsaw collection originating from the 1930s.
The museum is open from mid-June to Labor Day, Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM; after Labor Day through Columbus Day, Thursday through Sunday, 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday only, Columbus Day Weekend and by appointment.
Wilhelm Reich Museum - 19 Orgonon Circle Rangeley, ME 04970 - (207) 864-3443
At the Wilhelm Reich Museum, you will find factual information based on his books, manuscripts and private archives. The museum's mission is to preserve the primary sources that form the basis of our knowledge about Wilhelm Reich's life and work so that present and future generations may study them in undistorted form.
Hours - July & August: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
September: Saturdays 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
*last admission at 4:15 PM