News

On Monday, July 17, the Mansion will host its 7th annual joint benefit with Opera Maine(formerly PORTopera), Opera at the Mansion. This year's offering will feature the casts of Opera Maine's productions of Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata and  Jack Perla's An American Dream. The evening will begin with complimentary wine, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres under the tent on the Mansion's private lawn before the singers 'take the stage' in the Mansion's Stair Hall. After the program, guests are invited to enjoy more refreshments and meet the singers under the tent. The event will begin at 5:30pm and run until 7:30pm, with doors opening promptly at 5:25. Tickets are [...]

This year's Allagash Victoria Ale Premiere was a great success! Despite fears of rain, it was a beautiful night to take in live music from Mansion newcomers The MisAdventures, and enjoy signature ales from Allagash Brewing along with craft beverages from Green Bee and Maine Mead Works on the Mansion's private lawn. Allagash founder Rob Tod presented Executive Director Tom Johnson and President of the Board Drew Oestreicher with a check for $11,000 to support restoration and education at Victoria Mansion.  Combined with ticket sales, this year's fundraiser earned over $18,000! Thanks to all who attended and helped make this annual favorite a night to remember and a [...]

Much has happened with our major conservation project in the Reception Suite since our last update in April. After completing the cleaning of the ceiling decoration, the conservators sprayed a layer of stable, synthetic resin to preserve and protect the original surfaces. Then, on top of this barrier, they inpainted losses in the ochre-colored areas and applied 23-carat shell gold where it was missing. Conservators are now working to finish cleaning the walls. After that is accomplished, the walls will be treated with the barrier resin and inpainting will begin where there are areas of loss or overpaint.  Last week [...]

No visit to Victoria Mansion is complete without stopping in at the Carriage House Museum Shop. In the off-season, Museum Shop Manager and Buyer Patti Chase was busy preparing the shop and its new merchandise for visitors to peruse and enjoy. The shop has also undergone a bit of a face lift, with some changes to the paint and reorganization of shelving and displays, including a special Victorian library-inspired book section in the back. Even if you're not touring the Mansion, come by and see what's new! The shop is open everyday, Monday-Saturday from 10:00-4:00 and Sunday from 1:00-5:00. You [...]

The Mansion's 2016-2017 Annual Report is now available! The report includes up-to-date information on the previous fiscal year, including updates on restoration, development, education, curatorial, events, and the Carriage House Museum Shop. The report also includes short biographies on the team of talented artisans who have worked on the Mansion over the years, including conservator Gianfranco Pocobene, who also served as the guest speaker at the Mansion's annual meeting on April 24. The report was mailed to members who did not attend our annual meeting a few weeks ago. If you did not receive a copy or would like one, [...]

Since December, we've been providing you newsletter updates of the project to conserve the spectacular ceiling and wall paintings in the Mansion's Reception Suite. While many other activities continue to go on-- particularly planning for the upcoming visitation season that commences May 1 (less than a month away!)-- the conservation work continues to amaze and impress the staff and all who see it. In March, conservators sprayed a removable barrier varnish on the main Reception Suite ceiling, protecting the original paint they had fully cleaned and stabilized. With that barrier in place, they have begun the inpainting process with a [...]