photo credit: Mark Marchesi
Mechanics' Hall is one of the oldest cultural institutions in Portland, Maine. Built by the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, founded in 1815, the Hall has welcomed great thinkers, robust debate and conversation, live music, and dance performances for nearly 200 years. Located in the heart of the Arts District, and designed by Portland's first architect Thomas Sparrow, the building itself is a testament to the high aspirations of the city's leaders, makers, and entrepreneurs.
The Hall has a rich history as the home to the early labor movement, an educational center for local masters of crafts and trades, a refuge for Civil War soldiers, and a temporary City Hall following the Great Fire of 1866. We now host programs that support our creative and cultural community, from writers to chefs, to expert craftspeople, to artists and software designers. We have nurtured partnerships with PRINT: A Bookstore, Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, SPACE, Palaver Strings, 240 Strings, Indigo Arts Alliance, Creative Portland, Portland Society for Architecture, Portland Swing Project, MECA, and more.
Your gift supports our library, year-round programming including Maine Kids Code, Makers at the Hall, First Friday art exhibits and author talks, reduced rental rates for small nonprofits and the ongoing restoration and maintenance of our historic building.
Mechanics’ Hall is a qualified 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the limits of current federal and Maine state law. For more information, please consult with your tax advisor.