Congress Street (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
Congress Street is the main street in Portland, Maine. It stretches from Portland's border with Westbrook all the way to Munjoy Hill. From Munjoy Hill, you can see the Eastern Promenade.
In March 2009, the Portland City Council made much of Congress Street a special historic district. This means the buildings and area are protected because they are important to history. The western part of the street is also home to the city's Arts District. This area is full of museums, galleries, and theaters.
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Exploring Congress Street's Past
When Portland was first settled by British colonists, people mostly lived near the waterfront. This was around what is now India Street. Congress Street was planned out and first called Back Street. Later, it was known as Queen Street.
Early Buildings and Landmarks
Some of the first important buildings on the street included the First Parish Meeting House. It was built in 1740. The church you see today was built in the 1820s. There were also hay scales in Market Square. This area is now known as Monument Square.
For a long time, Back Street was seen as the very edge of town. This was true from when Portland was first settled until the time of the American Revolutionary War. The street officially got its name, Congress Street, in 1823.
A Place of Worship
In 1921, the Etz Chaim Synagogue was built on the eastern end of Congress Street. This part of the street leads up to Munjoy Hill. As of 2011, this synagogue was special. It was the only synagogue built by immigrants in Maine that was still being used.
Modern Changes and Traffic
In 2011, a study looked at ways to improve Congress Street. One idea was to have fewer stoplights. Another was to stop cars from making left turns off the street. City planners also said that Congress Street was the busiest road in the whole Portland area.
