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What to See & Do in Portland, Maine | |
| Some people visit Portland, Maine just for its restaurants, but there's lots more to do: historic houses, art, a children's museum, and sea cruises. | ||
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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 Museum of ArtParticularly 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... Portland ObservatoryAmerica'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.
Children's Museum of MaineFun 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 HouseThe boyhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow holds furnishings that once belonged to the famous family who lived here. More... Victoria MansionBuilt between 1858 and 1860, the Victoria Mansion (or Morse-Libby House), with 90% of its original luxury furnishings, is a time machine to take you back to pre-Civil War America. More... Tate HouseThe 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... Boats & CruisesPortland 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... Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & MuseumThis excursion train takes a short run along the Portland waterfront hauling the Rangeley Parlor Car, the only two-foot-rail-gauge parlor car ever built. More... ShoppingHead for Exchange Street (map), the pretty little street in the city center that's lined with boutiques and coffee shops. —by Tom Brosnahan
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View from the Portland Museum of Art, |
