Portland Observatory, Portland

Name: Portland Observatory
Address: 138 Congress St, Portland, 04101-3608, United States
Telephone: +1 207-774-5561

#8 among attractions in Portland

Top attraction, Observation decks and towers, Observatories and planetariums, Historical place, More...

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Facts and practical information

The Portland Observatory is a historic maritime signal tower at 138 Congress Street in the Munjoy Hill section of Portland, Maine. Built in 1807, it is the only known surviving tower of its type in the United States. Using both a telescope and signal flags, two-way communication between ship and shore was possible several hours before an incoming vessel reached the docks. The tower was designated a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2006; it is now managed by Greater Portland Landmarks, a local historic preservation nonprofit. It is open to the public as a museum. ()

Alternative names: Built: 1807 (217 years ago)Coordinates: 43°39'55"N, 70°14'54"W

Address

138 Congress StEast EndPortland 04101-3608 United States

Contact

+1 207-774-5561

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Portland

Day trips

Portland Observatory – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Cross Insurance Arena, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, Eastern Promenade, Time and Temperature Building.

0.9 miSW
Sport venue, Theater, Sport
Cross Insurance Arena, Portland
23 min walk • Cross Insurance Arena is a multi-purpose arena located in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of US$8 million, it is the home arena for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL.
~1480 ftSE
Museum, History museum
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, Portland
8 min walk • Tucked away in the picturesque city of Portland, Maine, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum offers a unique glimpse into the bygone era of narrow gauge railroads that once traversed the rugged landscapes of Maine. This charming museum is dedicated to preserving the...
~1430 ftN
Cycling, Bike path, Playground
Eastern Promenade, Portland
7 min walk • The Eastern Promenade is a historic promenade, 68.2-acre public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine. Construction of the Promenade began in 1836 and continued periodically until 1934.
0.8 miSW
Cycling, Bike path
Time and Temperature Building, Portland
20 min walk • The Time and Temperature Building, originally known as the Chapman Building, and officially 477 Congress Street, is a fourteen-story office building in downtown Portland, Maine.
1.1 miSW
Museum, Art museum, Performing arts
Portland Museum of Art, Portland
28 min walk • The Portland Museum of Art, or PMA, is the largest and oldest public art institution in the U.S. state of Maine. Founded as the Portland Society of Art in 1882. It is located in the downtown area known as The Arts District in Portland, Maine.
0.4 miSW
Church, Gothic Revival architecture
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
11 min walk • The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a historic cathedral at 307 Congress Street in Portland, Maine that serves as seat of the Diocese of Portland. The pastor is Bishop Robert Deeley, and the rector is Father Seamus Griesbach.
0.5 miSW
Park, Hiking trail, Outdoor activities
Lincoln Park, Portland
13 min walk • Lincoln Park is a 1.8-acre urban park in downtown Portland, Maine. Created in 1866 following the 1866 Great Fire which burned down most of the buildings of Portland, it was named in honor of former President Abraham Lincoln.
0.6 miSW
City hall
Portland City Hall, Portland
16 min walk • Portland City Hall is the center of city government in Portland, Maine. It is located at 389 Congress Street, and is set in a prominent rise, anchoring a cluster of civic buildings at the eastern end of Portland's downtown.
~960 ftNW
Park
Fort Sumner, Portland
5 min walk • Fort Sumner was a coastal defense fortification on Munjoy Hill in Portland, Maine, United States. It was built in 1794 as part of the first system of coastal fortifications built by the United States.
~890 ftNE
Church, Theater, Queen Anne architecture
St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland
5 min walk • The St. Lawrence Arts Center is a performing arts center and community space at 76 Congress Street in the Munjoy Hill district of Portland, Maine. It is located in the former parish house of the St. Lawrence Church, a historic Romanesque church that was built in 1897 and demolished in 2008.
~620 ftSW
Church
Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Portland
3 min walk • The Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Churchis a historic church at 46 Sheridan Street in Portland, Maine. Built in 1914, it is home to Maine's oldest African-American congregation; it is named for Moses Green, an escaped slave.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Portland Observatory?

Nearby attractions include Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Portland (3 min walk), Munjoy Hill, Portland (4 min walk), St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland (5 min walk), Fort Sumner, Portland (5 min walk).

How to get to Portland Observatory by public transport?

The nearest stations to Portland Observatory:

Bus

Congress St + India St • Lines: 9B, Brz (8 min walk)
City Hall - Congress St. • Lines: 9B (16 min walk)

Ferry

Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal (16 min walk)