Portland City Hall (Maine) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Portland City Hall
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

City Hall on a Post Card in 1910
Location in Maine Show map of Maine Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	389 Congress St., Portland, Maine
Area	1.125 acres (0.455 ha)
Built	1909
Architect	Carrere & Hastings; John Calvin Stevens
NRHP reference No.	73000119
Added to NRHP	May 7, 1973

Portland City Hall is an important building in Portland, Maine. It's where the city government works and makes decisions. You can find it at 389 Congress Street. This building stands out because it's on a small hill. It's surrounded by other important city buildings in downtown Portland.

The City Hall was built between 1909 and 1912. In 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place recognized for its history and design.

Exploring Portland City Hall
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Exploring Portland City Hall

Portland City Hall covers a large area. It's bordered by Congress, Myrtle, and Chestnut Streets, and Cumberland Avenue. The main part of the building is shaped like a "U". It's made of strong granite stone. A newer section extends along Myrtle Street.

Building Features

The middle part of the City Hall is three stories tall. It has windows on the roof called dormers. A low fence, called a balustrade, is in front of these windows. A tall tower, about 200 feet (61 m) high, rises from the center. The windows on the ground floor are rounded. This design continues around the sides of the building.

There are three main entrances. You reach them by climbing wide stairs. The middle entrance has the city's official seal above it. The sides of the building are two stories high. They have columns that face the inside of the "U" shape. These parts have slanted roofs with decorative edges.

Inside the City Hall

Inside the building, you'll find many city offices. This is where people work to manage Portland. The newer section on Myrtle Street also holds Merrill Auditorium. This is a large hall where concerts and shows take place. It can seat 1,908 people.

Merrill Auditorium is home to the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ. When it was built in 1912, this organ was the second largest in the world! It's a huge musical instrument that can make many different sounds.

History of the Building

The first city hall on this spot was built in 1862. It replaced an older one from 1825. Sadly, this first building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1866. After the fire, a new city hall was built. It was designed by Francis H. Fassett. But this second building also burned down in 1908.

The current Portland City Hall was designed by a famous company from New York City. They were called Carrere & Hastings. Local architects John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens also helped with the design. The building was inspired by New York City Hall. One of its designers, John M. Carrere, thought it was one of his best projects.