Mechanics Hall

The Maine Charitable Mechanic Association Portland’s Hidden Educational Institution Who We Are   Founded in 1815, the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association was part of a movement to set up mechanics’ institutes, which operated as craft guilds to promote and support the “mechanic arts,” practiced at that time by anyone using tools to ply a trade.…

Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, Portland, ME. 498 likes · 29 talking about this · 258 were here. MCMA was founded as a craftsman’s guild for...

Historic Mechanics Hall was built in 1859 and has served the Portland community in various capacities since that time. Acorn Productions is currently collaborating with MCMA (the non-profit organization that owns Mechanics Hall) on renovations designed to turn the third floor ballroom into a flexible performance venue.

Mechanics Hall is a historic commercial building and meeting hall at 519 Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine. Built in 1857-59 by and for the members of the Maine Charitable Mechanical Association, it is a well-preserved example of commercial Italianate architecture executed in brick and stone, and a landmark in Portland's downtown business district. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1] The building is still owned by the association, which has a library and sponsors events.

Mechanics’ Hall plays an integral part of fulfilling MCMA’s mission by providing a physical space to share our knowledge, create sparks with other hopeful minds, and support other organizations with similar charitable goals. Join us for chance conversations in our library lounge or directed discussions after expert lectures. Together “we shall be just, and fear not.”

In 1815, the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association was the fellowship for Portland’s creative community: the blacksmiths, coopers, carpenters, and more. Today we’re working to connect that history to the modern makers movement. Our mission is to inspire and enrich the community by promoting ingenuity, creativity, innovation and the diffusion of useful knowledge.