When Portland’s fabled Union Station, the rail center on Saint John Street, was demolished in 1961 it created such a public outrage that it inspired the beginning of the historic preservation of Maine buildings and iconic locations. The Greater Portland Landmarks has been at the forefront to increase awareness and appreciation of these historic places. Listed below are just a few of Portland’s architectural treasures.
Tate House (1755) 1270 Westbrook Street. While Portland was a frontier, Captain George Tate and his family lived here while he served as a mast agent for the British navy locating tall timbers for English ships.
Wadsworth-Longfellow House (1785-1786) 487 Congress Street. The oldest house on Portland’s peninsula and home of the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
McLellan Sweat Mansion (1800) 103 Spring Street. Successful as a shipping merchant, Hugh McLellan constructed his mansion to reflect a new popular style of the day with larger windows and carved décor.
Portland Observatory (1807) built on Portland’s highest spot by Lemuel Moody. Used to watch for ships entering the harbor and send signals to help ships in danger and approaching storms.
First Parish Church (1825-1826) 425 Congress Street. The oldest church in Portland and site where Maine’s Constitution was drafted. A cannonball from the British attack that burned Portland is located inside the church.
Charles Q. Clapp House (1832) 97 Spring Street. Built by Clapp who made a fortune buying and selling land in Portland. He built his home in the style of a Greek temple because of the young nation’s admiration of Greece as the birthplace of democracy.
Victoria Mansion (1855-1860) 109 Danforth Street. Built by Ruggles S. Morse in the Italianate style with a tall central tower. It was a summer home for Morse and his family who decorated it with art works of European and America masters. Called the “villa” because it was inspired by the 15th to 17th century villas of Italy.
United States Custom House (1868-1871) 312 Fore Street. Following the Civil War Portland harbor became a hub of commerce and needed a new building for government record keeping. It was designed to look like a European palace and built with Maine granite.