Ask your hotel for a copy of the Chamber
of Commerce of Greater
Portland's brochure called the Portland
History Trail, which sets forth details and a walking
tour (with map) of all the notable sights in the
city.
Portland Observatory
America's only maritime signal
tower, this historic lighthouse-like
monument at 138 Congress Street
was built in 1807 and now
offers the best views of Portland from
Memorial
Day weekend through Columbus
Day.
Boats and Cruises
Portland is the prime dock for Casco Bay and indeed
northern New England, and you can climb aboard
a boat for a few hours
or overnight. More...
Portland Museum of Art
Particularly strong are the collections of 19th- and
20th-century American art relating to Portland and
to Maine, with paintings by Winslow Homer,
the Wyeths, and the best collection of European art
north of Boston. More...
Children's Museum of Maine
Fun for the kids: a touch tank of
Maine creatures, a dress-up theater with
plenty of costumes, and more at 142 Free
Street (Tel. 207-828-1234).
Wadsworth-Longfellow House
The boyhood home of poet Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow holds furnishings
that once belonged to the famous family who lived
here.
More...
Victoria
Mansion
Built between 1858 and 1860, the Victoria Mansion,
with 90% of its original luxury furnishings, is a time
machine to take you back to pre-Civil War America. More...
Tate House
The Maine forest was for a long time the prime source
of masts for the British navy, and the man who managed
the whole trade was George Tate, who had this grand
house built in 1755. More...
