Rackleff Building facts for kids
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Rackleff Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 127, 129, 131, 133 Middle St., Portland, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | George M. Harding |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Part of | Portland Waterfront (ID74000353) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000123 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 09, 1973 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
The Rackleff Building is a very old and important building in the Old Port area of Portland, Maine. It was built in 1867 by a famous architect named George M. Harding. This building, along with the nearby Woodman Building and Thompson Block, shows off some of the best building styles from the mid-1800s in Portland. It is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is officially recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
About the Rackleff Building
The Rackleff Building is in the Old Port area of Portland. You can find it on Middle Street. It stands next to the Woodman Building. A small street called Church Street separates it from the Thompson Block.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This building has three floors. It is shaped a bit like a parallelogram. This means it has four sides, but its corners are not all 90 degrees. One corner, where it meets Church Street, is rounded.
The first floor has a special front made of cast iron. This is a strong type of metal. It looks a lot like the front of the Woodman Building. Tall, thin columns hold up arches and a flat section above them.
The windows on the upper floors are set in arched openings. They have decorative brackets and stone designs above them. The windows in the middle of the Middle Street side are even more fancy. The top of the building has a decorative edge called a cornice. It has pairs of brackets and cool patterns like hexagons and quatrefoils. The side of the building facing Church Street has similar, but simpler, decorations.
Why Was the Rackleff Building Built?
The Rackleff Building was built in 1867. This was the same year that the Woodman Building and Thompson Block were also built. All three buildings were constructed after a huge fire in Portland in 1866. This fire destroyed many buildings in the city.
George M. Harding was an important architect who came to Portland in 1858. He played a big part in helping to rebuild the city's business area after the fire. The Rackleff Building is a great example of his work and how Portland rebuilt itself.
