The Portland Museum of Art started in 1882 under the name Portland Society of Art, utilizing various exhibition spaces until 1908. It was in this year that Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat generously donated her three-story mansion, now recognized as the McLellan House, along with funds to establish a gallery in memory of her late husband, Lorenzo De Medici Sweat, a former U.S. Representative from Maine.
Over the ensuing 65 years, as the museum’s exhibitions grew in size and scope, the limitations of its galleries, storage facilities, and support areas became increasingly evident.
In 1976, Charles Shipman Payson, a proud Mainer, made a momentous commitment to the Portland Museum of Art. He pledged his collection of seventeen Winslow Homer paintings and contributed $8 million to fund the creation of a brand-new museum building, meticulously designed by architect Henry Nichols Cobb.
A pivotal chapter in the museum’s history unfolded in 1981 when construction started on the Charles Shipman Payson Building at Congress Square. By 1983, the museum celebrated the grand unveiling of this architecturally significant addition to the city.
It’s fascinating to note the twist of fate woven into this narrative: Henry N. Cobb’s ancestor, Matthew Cobb, originally built a house on this very site in 1801—a house that would later make way for the Libby Building, eventually cleared to pave the path for the museum’s expansion.
The museum’s vast collection boasts over 22,000 artworks, spanning from the 18th century to the present day. Among its treasures are works by renowned artists such as Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and many more.
Fast forward to 2022, where PMA unveiled ambitious plans for a 60,000 square foot expansion, introducing four finalist teams led by esteemed international architectural firms.