Mariner's Church (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
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Mariner's Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the church, HABS photo from 1965
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 366-376 Fore St., Portland, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Portland Waterfront (ID74000353) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000117 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1973 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
Mariner's Church is a very old and important building in Portland, Maine. It's also known as the Old Port Tavern or the Mariner's Church Banquet Center. This building was built way back in 1828. It has a special design called Greek Revival. For a long time, it was used as both a church and a place for businesses. It was even the biggest business building in Portland for many years! Amazingly, it survived a huge fire in the city in 1866. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Contents
About Mariner's Church
The Mariner's Church building is located in Portland's Old Port area. It takes up a large part of a city block. The building is made of strong materials like granite and brick. It has three floors and a wide, sloped roof.
Building Design and Features
The front of the building faces Fore Street. On the ground floor, there are six storefronts. Each one has an entrance that is set back a bit. Next to each entrance is a large display window.
The second floor has a row of twelve windows with rounded tops. The third floor has rectangular windows. Above these, the roof forms a triangular shape called a pediment. In the middle of this triangle, there is a fan-shaped window. The corners of the building are rounded. One corner is made of brick, and the other is made of stone. The front of the building is mostly stone, while the sides facing the streets are mainly brick.
A Place for Sailors and Business
The Mariner's Church was built in 1828. It was used to teach "moral and religious" lessons to local mariners. The money to keep the church running came from the businesses on the ground floor.
In 1866, a huge fire swept through Portland. The Mariner's Church was damaged, but it survived! In 1969, a person named C.H. Robinson bought the building. He saved it from being torn down.
In 1973, the building became a restaurant called the Old Port Tavern. That same year, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the building is used for special events and is known as the Mariner's Church Banquet Center.
Recent History
The Old Port Tavern, which was on the Moulton Street side of the building, closed in 2022. It had been open for fifty years. However, Old Port Billiards, which is on the third floor of the building, is still open. The building is now connected to the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa. This hotel is part of a group called Historic Hotels of America.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine
- Portland Freedom Trail
