History
The natural world has always been an inspiration to artists; Bridgton and the surrounding lakes and mountains of western Maine are testament to this
Our Story
In the early 19th century, the prolific mural painter, inventor, and founder of Scientific American, Rufus Porter, lived in Bridgton where now a state-of-the-art museum houses his folk paintings, landscape murals, portraits, and writings. In the 1910s, Metropolitan opera singer Olive Fremstad hosted numerous artist salons at her home near Highland Lake. Stephen and Tabitha King also live nearby on Kezer Lake.
All of these locations are just around the corner from Highland Grove Arts where, in1894, four Victorian homes were built on the original Burnham estate that still stands across the street. The historic “middle sister”, now Highland Grove Arts, was originally owned by Bridgton’s stylish haberdasher and talented musician, Fred C. Gibbs. The barn at Highland Grove Arts hosted numerous small concerts in the late 19th century into the 1910s.
Steeped in such artistic history, Bridgton still has numerous art galleries and music venues for guests to enjoy. Also nearby are the many trails nearby in the Pondicherry Land Trust, Five Fields Farm, Bald Pate Mountain, Narramissic Farm, and the Fitch-Peabody woods and quarries.
Highland Grove Arts 