Portland on the Fore River

Portland is a city set on a peninsula that extends into Casco Bay. The Fore River is an estuary that separates Portland and South Portland.

Take a walk along Commercial Street which stretches along the water. Here you can find many restaurants, cafes, bars, and boutiques. Both locals and tourists love to walk here and catch the sea breezes, watch the ships, and see fishermen with their catches. The cobblestone streets are lined with charming buildings from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Among the architectural gems here is the Customs House.

The Portland Observatory is a symbol of Portland’s rich maritime heritage and offers fantastic views over the harbor. Its historic tower stands on Munjoy Hill. Built in 1807 the tower provided communication between ships and the shore through the use of signal flags and a telescope. Unfortunately, the telescope disappeared from the tower in 1939. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark and the 86-foot tall tower is now a museum. Guided tours are available.

The Portland Museum of Art is the oldest and largest public art institution in Maine. It is located in the Arts District of the city. The museum has a collection of more than 17,000 decorative and fine arts objects from the 18th century to the present. The artworks are divided into different genres like the State of Maine Collection, the European Collection, and the American-art-based Elizabeth B. Noyce Collection, with works by Homer, Rodin, Degas, Bellows, and Wyeth.

The museum has three architecturally significant buildings and the Charles Shipman Payson Building stands as the face of the museum since its opening in 1983. The museum also hosts educational programs and events all year long.

Victoria Mansion is also known as the Morse-Libby House. It is one of America’s finest examples of pre-Civil War opulence. It was built between 1858 and 1860 as a summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse, a proprietor of luxury hotels born in Maine and made his fortune in New Orleans. It was built in the Italian villa style. The interiors were designed by Gustave Herter. They still have most of the original furnishings he designed for the original owner. Guided tours are available from May through October.

The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine offers interactive education and learning for all ages. Located in the Arts District the museum features many different hands-on displays and exhibits to encourage children to use their imagination to explore, discover, and learn. Among the permanent exhibits are Coco’s Diner where children can pretend they run a diner and Car Repair Shop where children can try out their hands at mechanics.

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum was founded in 1992. It was established to preserve Maine’s historic two-foot gauge railroad equipment and to educate the public about the importance and heritage of the state’s railway system. It is housed in the Portland Company Marine Complex with interesting rolling stock and historical artifacts from the narrow gauge railways that ran in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Visitors can have their choice of programs and presentations like the Diesel Guest Engineer where you can try your hand at operating a 23-ton, four-axle diesel-electric locomotive or you can sit back and enjoy ice cream and see lovely views of the Casco Bay on the Ice Cream Train trip.

Odyssey Whale Watch will take you out to the sea to look for whales, dolphins, sharks, sunfish, and seabirds. Visitors take tours on the Odyssey, a fully-equipped vessel with seating and decks for great viewing. You will hear interesting and informative facts about the ocean environment and the sea animals. The tour will take you to the whale feeding grounds and takes about four hours. Refreshments are available onboard.

The Islands of Casco Bay or the Calendar Islands are located just off the coast of Maine. They can be reached by ferries. Casco Bay Lines offer year-round service to the larger islands, the last stop at Cliff Island which is great for biking and walking. Peaks Island has lovely sandy beaches, restaurants, and an artist’s community. Great Diamond Island offers a historical look at the former parade grounds of Fort McKinley.

The Maine Historical Society was founded in 1922 and is located in the Arts District. It is a museum where you can learn about the history of Maine. The MHS and museum consists of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Longfellow Garden, the MHS Research Library, the Maine Historical Society Museum and Store, and the Maine Memory Network, a digital museum through which the MHS runs its educational programs. It is located on a campus across from Monument Square and is open to the public all year round.

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House was built in 1785 by General Peleg Wadsworth. Today it is a historic house and museum. In 1962 it was designated as a National Historic Landmark. It is the oldest standing structure on the Portland peninsula and is the childhood home of well-known American poet Henry Wadsworth. The house documents the lives of four generations of the Wadsworth and Longfellow families.

Portland Head Light is a historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth. It sits on a head of land at the entrance to the primary shipping channel into Portland Harbor. It was completed in 1791 and is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. When visiting you’ll notice the waves crashing over some unique rock formations of quartzite and dark grey phyllite that have accumulated in alternating layers. Looking toward Portland Harbor and Casco Bay you’ll notice another four lighthouse towers.

To the left (North) is Spring Point Ledge Light built in 1897. It is a caisson-style light station at the end of a rock breakwater.

Right in front is Ram Island Ledge Light dating from 1905 whose beacon now is solar powered.

Beyond Ram Island and only visible on a clear day is Halfway Rock Light Station from 1871.

To the right (South) is Cape Elizabeth Light one of two towers originally built and the remaining operating tower dates from 1874.

Two Lights State Park got its name from the original twin lighthouses built in 1929 that were the first twin lighthouses on the coast of Maine. The eastern light is active but not open to the public and the western one is now a private home. They were depicted by Edward Hopper in his famous painting Lighthouse at Two Lights. There are picnic tables on the hills with spectacular ocean views. You can hike or stroll enjoying the sea breezes and watching the ships.

Fort Williams Park is a 90-acre park in Cape Elizabeth. It includes numerous historical sites. It is a great place to picnic, fly a kite, take a walk, tour the arboretum, walk the cliffside loop, explore the rocky beach, and enjoy the playground. Children will love The Children’s Garden. Vendors offer lobster rolls, sandwiches, and gelato.