Portland Observatory facts for kids
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Portland Observatory
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The Portland Observatory in 2024
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| Location | 138 Congress St Portland, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1807 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000122 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | February 17, 2006 |
The Portland Observatory is a really old signal tower in Portland, Maine. It's located on Munjoy Hill at 138 Congress Street. Built way back in 1807, it's the only tower of its kind still standing in the United States.
This special tower helped ships and people on land talk to each other. It used a telescope and signal flags. This meant they could communicate hours before a ship even reached the docks! The tower was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It's also a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Today, a group called Greater Portland Landmarks takes care of it. You can even visit it as a museum!
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Why the Observatory Was Built
Portland has a deep harbor with many islands. This makes it a safe place for ships. However, ships entering the harbor couldn't be seen from the wharfs. This caused problems for merchants. They needed to know when their cargoes were arriving.
In 1807, Captain Lemuel Moody had a great idea. He decided to build an observatory on Portland's Munjoy Hill. This spot was perfect because you could see it from the ocean and the wharfs. During the War of 1812, the observatory was even used as a watch tower.
About the Observatory Building
The observatory is 86 feet (26 meters) tall. That's like a 7-story building! It has an octagonal shape, which means it has eight sides. This shape helps it stand strong against strong winds. It looks a bit like a lighthouse.
The base of the tower is made of heavy, loose rocks. It doesn't have a basement. But the rocks and the octagonal design have kept it steady. It has survived many storms over the years. The top part, called the 'lantern' or cupola, once held a powerful telescope. This telescope could spot ships up to 30 miles (48 km) away! Sadly, that original telescope disappeared in 1939.
The observatory has been fixed up many times. One big renovation happened in 1939. The most recent repairs were from 1998 to 2000. These repairs fixed damage from moisture and tiny bugs called powderpost beetles. This work even won an award in 2001!
The center column inside the tower was not original. It was added during the 1939 renovation. In 2014, more repairs were done to the windows and outer shingles. The observatory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. In 2006, it became both a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
How the Observatory Worked in the Past
The Portland Observatory is the only old maritime signal station left in the U.S. It used to make money from shipping merchants. They paid a yearly fee to have their flags kept at the tower. When their ships were seen, their flag would be raised on the flagstaffs. This told everyone on shore that their ship was coming!
Later, a telephone was added to the tower. This helped it work even longer. But by 1923, ships had engines and radios. This made the old signal tower less important. It became obsolete.
In 1937, the tower was given to the city. After it closed, it was often unlocked. Kids from the area loved to play inside! Some older people still remember carving their initials into the wood. During the latest big restoration, they tried to keep as much of the original wood as possible. The old wood is darker, while the newer replacement wood is lighter.
Visiting the Observatory Today
Today, a group called Greater Portland Landmarks takes care of the building. You can take a guided tour of the observatory. Volunteers will tell you all about its history and the neighborhood. Tours are offered from Memorial Day to Columbus Day for a small fee.
On clear days, the view from the top balcony is amazing! You can see all the way to the ocean horizon. You can even see Mount Washington far inland.
See also
- List of towers
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Maine
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine
Images for kids
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Portland Observatory in 1936
