This Plain 183-Year-Old Maine Church Is Hiding an Explosion of Color Inside

While researching some small towns in Maine, I recently came across Solon.

I’d never heard of it before, but apparently, it’s about 25 miles north of Skowhegan and roughly 50 miles northwest of Augusta. Solon sits along the Kennebec River and is a quiet, scenic, and remote town.

That’s when I discovered a simple, almost gothic-looking church sitting by itself in this little Maine town with an incredible hidden gem inside.

The South Solon Meeting House

At first glance, it could look haunted like any small, lonely chapel, but once you open those doors, you enter a beautiful, colorful, and historic church now known as the South Solon Meeting House.

According to Visit Maine, the church was built in 1842 and was once referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of Maine.” The interior was elaborately painted between 1952 and 1957 by artists selected by juries from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.

When you walk in, you’re greeted by several small wooden pews and large windows that let in light, illuminating the walls and ceilings covered with stunning biblical frescoes.

Visit Maine noted, “Frescoes are created by applying paint to wet lime plaster.” That's a form of mural painting that becomes a permanent part of the wall.

Meander Maine added that the Skowhegan School, established in 1946, was one of the few places still teaching fresco painting, the same technique used by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

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Today, the frescoes are lovingly preserved by the South Solon Historical Society, which has raised funds to restore the church over the last decade. They’ve ensured it remains a place for people to gather, whether for quiet contemplation, church services, or musical performances.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit the South Solon Meeting House?

It’s free and always open to the public. Though its plain and simple exterior looks like many New England churches, once inside, you’ll find an explosion of color.

Visit Maine calls it a “truly one-of-a-kind destination.”

This is a must-see for sure.

This website from Colby College has elaborate pictures and descriptions of each fresco if you want to learn more.