National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine facts for kids

Location of Portland in Maine

Welcome to Portland, Maine! Did you know this city is full of amazing old buildings and special places? This article is all about the historic spots in Portland that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a special club for important buildings and areas that tell us about the past.

Portland is in Cumberland County, Maine. Across the whole county, there are 243 places listed on the National Register. Out of these, 11 are even more important and are called National Historic Landmarks. In Portland itself, there are 95 of these special places. We'll explore some of the most interesting ones here!

Historic Places in Portland

Here are some of the cool historic places you can find in Portland:

Old Buildings and Homes

Many buildings in Portland have stories to tell.

• Abyssinian Meeting House: This building at 73-75 Newbury Street became historic in 2006. It's a very old meeting house with a lot of history.
• Harrison B. Brown House: Located at 400 Danforth Street, this house was listed in 1980. It's a beautiful old home.
• J.B. Brown Memorial Block: You can find this historic block of buildings at Congress and Casco Streets. It was added to the list in 1978.
• A.B. Butler House: This house at 4 Walker Street has been historic since 1974.
• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception: This grand church on Cumberland Avenue and Congress Street became historic in 1985. It's a very impressive building.
• Leonard Bond Chapman House: At 90 Capisic Street, this house joined the list in 1980.
• Chestnut Street Methodist Church: This church at 11-19 Chestnut Street has been a historic place since 1977.
• Children's Hospital: The building at 68 High Street, once a children's hospital, was listed in 2012.
• Charles Q. Clapp Block: This building at Congress Square became historic in 1978.
• Charles Q. Clapp House: The house at 97 Spring Street was listed even earlier, in 1972.
• Nathan Clifford School: This old school building at 180 Falmouth Street became historic in 2013.
• Gen. Neal Dow House: At 714 Congress Street, this house is a National Historic Landmark, listed in 1973. It was the home of Neal S. Dow, an important person who worked to stop alcohol sales in the 1800s.
• Nathaniel Dyer House: This house at 168 York Street was added to the list in 1987.
• Engine Company Number Nine Firehouse: This old fire station at 17 Arbor Street became historic in 2010.
• Everett Chambers: Located at 47-55 Oak Street, this building was listed in 2006.
• First Parish Church: This church at 425 Congress Street has been a historic place since 1973.
• The Gothic House: This unique house at 387 Spring Street was listed in 1974.
• Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church: At 46 Sheridan Street, this church became historic in 1973.
• Byron Greenough Block: This building at Free and Middle Streets was added to the list in 1977.
• Griffin House: The house at 200 High Street became historic in 1984.
• Hamblen Block: This block of buildings at 188-194 Danforth Street was listed in 1983.
• Asa Hanson Block: At 548-550 Congress Street, this building became historic in 2001.
• How Houses: A small group of houses at 23 Danforth Street and 30-32, 40 Pleasant Streets, listed in 1980. They belonged to the How family.
• Daniel How House: Specifically, the house at 23 Danforth Street was listed in 1973.
• Joseph Holt Ingraham House: This house at 51 State Street became historic in 1973.
• Lancaster Block: At 474 Congress Street, this building was listed in 1982.
• Adam P. Leighton House: This house at 261 Western Promenade became historic in 1982.
• Maine Central Railroad General Office Building: This old office building at 222-224 St. John Street was listed in 1988.
• Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary: The building at 794-800 Congress Street, once a hospital, became historic in 1986.
• Maine Historical Society: The library building of the Maine Historical Society at 485 Congress Street was listed in 1980. It's right next to the Wadsworth-Longfellow House!
• Maine Publicity Bureau Building: This building at 501 Danforth Street became historic in 1990.
• Marine Hospital: The old Marine Hospital at 331 Veranda Street was listed in 1974.
• Mariner's Church: This church at 368-374 Fore Street became historic in 1973.
• Masonic Temple: The Masonic Temple at 415 Congress Street was listed in 1982.
• McLellan-Sweat Mansion: At 111 High Street, this is another National Historic Landmark, listed in 1970. It's a beautiful old mansion.
• Mechanics' Hall: This hall at 519 Congress Street became historic in 1973.
• William Minott House: This house at 45 Park Street was listed in 1979.
• Morse-Libby Mansion (Victoria Mansion): This amazing mansion at 109 Danforth Street is a National Historic Landmark, listed in 1970. It's also known as Victoria Mansion and is famous for its incredible design.
• North School: This old school building at 248-264 Congress Street became historic in 1982.
• Park Street Row: A row of historic houses at 88-114 Park Street, listed in 1972.
• Porteous, Mitchell and Braun Company Building: This building at 522-528 Congress Street was listed in 1996.
• Portland City Hall: The main city hall building at 389 Congress Street became historic in 1973.
• Portland City Hospital: The old Portland City Hospital on Brighton Avenue was listed in 1985.
• Portland Club: This club building at 156 State Street became historic in 1973.
• Portland High School: The high school building at 284 Cumberland Avenue was listed in 1984.
• Portland Packing Company Factory: This old factory at 14-26 York Street became historic in 1996.
• Rackleff Building: This building at 127, 129, 131, and 133 Middle Street was listed in 1973.
• Thomas Brackett Reed House: At 30-32 Deering Street, this house is a National Historic Landmark, listed in 1973. It was the home of Thomas Brackett Reed, who was a very important leader in the U.S. House of Representatives a long time ago.
• John B. Russwurm House: This house at 238 Ocean Avenue became historic in 1983. It was the home of John Brown Russwurm, who worked to end slavery.
• St. Lawrence Church: The church at 76 Congress Street was listed in 1979. The church building was later taken down, but the parish hall is now a performing arts center.
• St. Paul's Church and Rectory: This church and rectory at 279 Congress Street became historic in 1978.
• Schlotterbeck and Foss Building: This building at 117 Preble Street was listed in 2016.
• Sparrow House: The house at 35 Arlington Street was listed in 1982.
• John Calvin Stevens House: This house at 52 Bowdoin Street became historic in 1973.
• Tate House: At 1270 Westbrook Street, this is another National Historic Landmark, listed in 1970. It's a very old and important house.
• Thompson Block: This building at 117, 119, 121, 123, and 125 Middle Street was listed in 1973.
• Tracy-Causer Block: This building at 505-509 Fore Street became historic in 1994.
• U.S. Courthouse: The courthouse at 156 Federal Street was listed in 1974.
• U.S. Customhouse: This building at 312 Fore Street, where taxes on imported goods were collected, became historic in 1973.
• US Post Office-Portland Main: The main post office at 125 Forest Avenue was listed in 1986.
• Wadsworth-Longfellow House: At 487 Congress Street, this is a National Historic Landmark, listed in 1966. It was the childhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a very famous American poet!
• Williston-West Church and Parish House: This church and parish house at 32 Thomas Street became historic in 1980.
• Woodman Building: This building at 133-141 Middle Street was listed in 1972.

Parks and Outdoor Areas

Portland also has historic outdoor spaces.

• Back Cove: This large area around Baxter Boulevard along Back Cove was listed as a historic district in 1989. It's a beautiful place for walks and views.
• Deering Oaks: This park, roughly surrounded by Interstate 295, Forest Street, Park Avenue, and Deering Avenue, became a historic district in 1989. It's a popular park in the city.
• Eastern Cemetery: This old cemetery on Congress Street at Mountfort Street was listed in 1973. It's a quiet place with old gravestones.
• Eastern Promenade: This scenic area along Eastern Promenade and Casco Bay became a historic district in 1989. It offers amazing views of the water.
• Evergreen Cemetery: This large cemetery off Stevens Avenue was listed as a historic district in 1992.
• Lincoln Park: This park, bounded by Pearl, Franklin, Market, and Federal Streets, became a historic district in 1989.
• Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument: This monument at the junction of Congress Street and Federal Street was listed in 1998. It honors soldiers and sailors.
• Western Promenade: This scenic area, roughly from Maine Medical Center to Valley Street, became a historic district in 1989. It also offers great views.

Islands and Forts

Some historic places are on islands near Portland!

• Battery Steele: This old military battery on Peaks Island was listed in 2005. It's a cool place to explore.
• Eighth Maine Regiment Memorial: This memorial at 13 8th Main Avenue on Peaks Island was listed in 2006.
• Fifth Maine Regiment Community Center: This center on Seashore Avenue on Peaks Island became historic in 1978.
• Fort Gorges: This old fort, east of Portland on Hog Island in Portland Harbor, was listed in 1973. You can only reach it by boat!
• Fort McKinley Historic District: This historic district is on Great Diamond Island and was listed in 1985. It was once a military fort.
• Maine Archeological Site No. 9-16: This Native American site on Great Diamond Island was listed in 1979. It's a place where archaeologists learn about early people.

Historic Districts

Sometimes, a whole area or neighborhood is considered historic because of its special character.

• Deering Street Historic District: This area includes Congress, Deering, Mellen, and State Streets and was listed in 1983.
• Hamblen Development Historic District: This district at 188-208 Danforth Street was listed in 1992.
• How Houses: (Also listed above under "Old Buildings and Homes") This small group of houses belonging to the How family was listed as a district in 1980.
• Portland Waterfront: The waterfront area, including parts of Commercial and Center Streets, became a historic district in 1974. It's a very important part of Portland's history as a port city.
• Spring Street Historic District: This area, roughly bounded by Forest, Oak, Danforth, Brackett, and Pine Streets, was listed in 1970.
• Stroudwater Historic District: This residential area where the Stroudwater River and Fore River meet was listed in 1973.
• Westbrook College Historic District: This district at 716 Stevens Avenue was listed in 1977.
• Western Promenade Historic District: This area, roughly bounded by Western Promenade and Bramhall, Brackett, Emery, and Danforth Streets, was listed in 1984.

Historic Boats

Even boats can be historic!

• BAGHEERA (schooner): This schooner (a type of sailing ship) at Maine State Pier on Commercial Street was listed in 2009.
• Wendameen (Yacht): This yacht, also at Maine State Pier on Commercial Street, was listed in 1992. It's a beautiful old boat!

Former Listings

Sometimes, a place is removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This can happen if the building is changed too much or torn down.

• First Baptist Church: This church at 353 Congress Street was listed in 1978 but was removed in 2015.
• Portland Stove Foundry: This building at 57 Kennebec Street was listed in 1974 but was removed in 2009.