Farnsworth Art Museum

Something about the light on the water and the rocks tumbling into the sea has inspired generations of Maine artists. The best of their work is showcased at the multi-faceted Farnsworth Art Museum (16 Museum St., 207/596-6457, www.farnsworthmuseum.org [1], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thu.–Tue., 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Wed., late May–mid-Oct.; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wed.–Sun. mid-Oct.–late May, $12 adults, $10 seniors and students 17 and older, free children under 17 and free to all 5–8 p.m. Wed.), which features well-known Maine [2] artists such as Winslow Homer and Andrew Wyeth. Behind its big modern galleries, the Wyeth Center highlights the very different works of Andrew’s father, N. C., and his son Jamie. (The Wyeth Center is closed Jan–mid-May, but the rest of the museum remains open year-round.)

Andrew Wyeth’s best-known work, Christina’s World, isn’t here (it’s at MoMA in New York City), but the next best thing is—the house that inspired the arresting and melancholy character study. Docents can give you directions to the Olson House (Hathorn Pt. Rd., Cushing, $5), a half-hour drive away, which was once home to the crippled Christina and her eccentric brother Alvaro. Guides there tell the story of the painting, which was based on an actual event when Wyeth came across Christina crawling home from her parents’ graves.