Langlais Art Preserve, Cushing

Nature preserves that include sculpture gardens open to the public are wonderful but uncommon (unfortunately). Langlais Preserve is enchanting, and offers both an interesting albeit short walk around enormous sculptures by Bernard Langlais (1921-1977), as well as a longer nature walk in the forest behind the installations. (For another sculpture garden, check out Viles Arboretum in Augusta.)

If you go during opening hours, you can wander into the barn and workshop to see some of Langlais’s smaller wooden pieces. He worked tirelessly, I gather, in the 11 years he lived in Cushing, and many of his late works depict animals, “a subject he found visually rich but also morally compelling.” He died when he was 56, and his wife helped to preserve his home and works.

You can start your meandering close to the parking area and kiosk by following the 0.25-mile, gravel, wheelchair friendly path that winds around the outdoor pieces. If you venture into the woods behind the house, you can choose one of several non-wheelchair accessible loops, ranging from a little under a mile to about 2.5 miles (if you go all the way to the Back Loop). The paths through the forest include small inclines and dips, and are your typical woodsy fare with roots and rocks. A picnic platform off the purple connector trail overlooks a frog pond.

More of Langlais’s sculptures are installed at preserves and parks throughout the state. You can see a map of them here.

Directions: The address of the home and preserve is 576 River Rd, Cushing. From the preserve website: From Route 1 in Thomaston, head south on Wadsworth Street, and continue straight on Brooklyn Heights Road/River Road for 3.2 miles. The preserve is located on the right at 576 River Road, Cushing.