Portland Maine is a gold mine of Breweries and Distilleries. A fun way to spend the day in Portland is to contact The Maine Brew Bus, a Maine brewery bus tour company. Anyone interested in learning about the brewery history in Portland, can take advantage of their regularly scheduled tours. They also have private tours in Greater Portland and Southern Maine. The tours are conducted on bright green school buses and provide a behind the scenes look at Maine’s craft breweries, distilleries and wineries. They also offer Brew Walking Tours which is a great tour to do during this time of the pandemic.
The Maine Brew Bus is located at 79 Commercial St in Portland. Their phone number is 207-200-9111.
The Portland Observatory is located at 138 Congress Street in the Munjoy Hill area of Portland Maine. It was built in 1807 and is the only remaining historic maritime signal station in the United States. It was designated a historic landmark in 2006 and is open to the public as a museum.
Portland has a deep harbor that is surrounded by many islands. The ships entering the harbor were not visible from the wharfs, which created problems for merchants preparing for the arrival of their cargos. Captain Lemuel Moody organized the construction of the observatory which could be seen from the ocean and the wharfs.
Using both a telescope and signal flags, two way communication between ship and shore was made possible several hours before an incoming ship reached the docks. The observatory is 7 stories high. During the War of 1812, it was used as a watch tower.
Casco Bay in Portland is dotted with over 200 beautiful islands. Peaks Island and Long Island are the most populated. Each island has its own personality and history. The islands accessible year round are Cliff Island, Chebeaque Island, Long Island, Peaks Island, Little Diamond and Great Diamond Islands. Casco Bay Lines ferry is the most popular means of transportation to and from the islands.
World War II left a big footprint on the Casco Islands. In 1942, the United States installed military reservations on Cape Elizabeth, Peaks Island, Jewel Island, Long Island and Bailey Island, and the islands were a hotbed of military activity. There were 58 military structures on Peaks Island. In 1940, U-boats patrolled the Atlantic Ocean in deadly packs sinking 4,407 Allied ships. Casco Bay played a very important role in protecting the coast, providing ships, hunting submarines and mounting the invasion. At the end of the war, the abandoned bunkers were renovated for new uses or are now landmarks.
The Portland Museum of Art is located at 7 Congress Square in beautiful Portland Maine. Their collection of over 18,000 artworks, range from Andy Warhol and Winslow Homer to Louise Nevelson and Claude Monet.
Winslow Homer (1836-1910) is widely regarded as one of the greatest American artists of the 19th century. He has influential ties to Maine and the Portland Museum of Art. The museum operates the Winslow Homer Studio, a landmark building on the rocky coast of Maine where the artist lived from 1884 until his death.
The museum conducts tours at the Winslow Homer Studio. They offer Free School Tours and Group Tours for groups of 10 or more. You can also take a self guided tour on your mobile device with the PMA guide.
The PMA is free for members. If you are not a member, admission is $18.00 for adults and $15.00 for seniors and students. Everyone 21 and under is always free. There is the PMA cafe that offers coffee and other beverages and sandwiches on the premises.
The David E. Shaw and Family Sculpture Park is a free and open green space for anyone to wander through. It’s open for everyone for free during museum hours May thru December. The entrance is located on High St. in Portland.
Reservations are not required and admission may be purchased onsite. The phone # is 207-775-6148 (option #2). The Portland Museum of Art is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Congress Square is currently under construction but the PMA is open. Congress Square and High, Free and Congress Streets are currently under a multi year redevelopment and construction project run by the City of Portland. The project is causing some disruptions to the traffic patterns but you will thoroughly enjoy your visit to the Portland Museum of Art! I guarantee you will want to return again after your first visit!
Rosemont Market and Bakery is a small neighborhood market with multiple locations in the Portland area. The location closest to me is in the West End at 40 Pine St. on the corner of Brackett and Pine Sts. Other locations are:
The West End market and bakery on Pine St. is in a wonderful location and is a local favorite spot for morning coffee/breakfast and lunch. Their bread is made by hand and is baked fresh everyday along with:
Rosemont also sells wine and has a weekly food menu. All items on the weekly food menu are available after 2PM on the day listed. With prepared lunches, local fruits and vegetables, Rosemont Market and Bakery is a great place for fresh, local food!
Franklin Simmons began the design and the construction of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Memorial in 1885, three years after the poets death. The pedestal was designed by Francis H. Fassette. The bronze statue depicts Longfellow seated in a chair with a stack of books under it. Longfellow is wearing an overcoat, and a cape is draped over his lap and one shoulder. One hand holds a manuscript while the poet gazes at the passersby. The statue is located on the corner of State and Congress in the West End neighborhood of Portland.
The Maine Lobsterman Statue is located in a cobblestone plaza on the corner of Temple and Middle Streets in Portland Maine. Victor Kahill of Portland was commissioned to create the statue with Maine’s participation in the 1939 New York World’s Fair as a commemoration of Mainers who have dedicated their lives to fishing. It occupied a prominent place in the Maine section of the Hall Of States at the World’s Fair.
Victor Kahill was originally an immigrant born in Beirut Lebanon. The model for the statue was H. Elroy “Snoody” Johnson, a Bailey Island resident and lifelong fisherman. Johnson was born in 1894 and would frequently visit the State House to participate in discussions about fishing policies.
The state of Maine could not afford a bronze statue so Kahill painted his plaster model a bronze color. Later, the state would cast three bronze replicas of the statue that were placed in:
The best time to visit Portland Maine for ideal weather is mid-May through mid-October. The warmest time of year is mid-July and the hottest months are July and August. As far as humidity goes, February is the least humid month and August is the most humid.
From my previous posts, you know that I lived in Portland for one month and then moved back to Washington DC. As soon as I returned, I knew I made a mistake and should have stayed. Part of the reason for this blog is to journal my steps back to Portland Maine. I am planning a trip to Portland in May with my trusted companion, Sophie. Sophie is my 8 year old Westie and my best friend! Before tourist season begins, I want to get a feel for the city in better weather. The last time I was there was in February which is really the worst weather month to experience the city. Please continue to follow my blog as my journey continues.
On the average, Portland receives 61.8 inches of snow each year. Maine winters can be brutal but because Portland is a coastal city, the winter is not as bad as you might think. But don’t get me wrong, winter is still COLD!
