Designed by Maine’s first architect, Thomas Sparrow, Mechanics’ Hall has served as a place of comfort and inspiration in both ordinary and extraordinary times. It is a vibrant monument to tradespeople, artisans, and creators; to writers and readers, musicians and dancers,
and all the makers who have found and built a community here.
Now more than ever, we look to our history
for courage, comfort, and inspiration.
Help ensure our bright future with your year-end donation.
Welcome to Mechanics’ Hall
In 1815, the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association was the fellowship for Portland’s creative community: the blacksmiths, coopers, carpenters, and more. Between 1857 and 1859, they built Mechanics’ Hall to house their library and become a communal gathering space. Today’s Mechanics’ Hall connects to that rich history by inspiring and enriching the community while promoting ingenuity, creativity, innovation and the diffusion of useful knowledge.
We are the modern mechanics. Join us.
Meet our new librarian Julie!
Mechanics’ Hall has hired our new librarian. We would like to welcome Julie Olson (you can also call her Jules). Olson comes to Mechanics’ with a wealth of experience in library sciences, collection development, public programs and more. She has long been a maker, performer, and teacher. More specifically, she is a weaver, musician, mixed media artist, and not surprisingly, a voracious reader.
Welcome Jules! We can’t wait to see what you will do at Mechanics’ Hall.
Library pick-up service!
Exciting news for all of you book lovers: we’ve opened the library for “curbside” service! Now you can pick up new titles and return old ones Tuesday through Thursday. Please click button below for more details.
Upcoming Events
Program funding has been provided by The Maine Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan of 2020.
Get involved!
Join as a member or donate to support our library, year-round programming and help restore our historic building.