Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland
The Wadsworth-Longfellow House in Portland is a historically significant landmark that holds both architectural and literary importance. The house serves as a museum that showcases the legacy of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who spent a significant part of his childhood within its walls.
Built between 1785 and 1786 by American Revolutionary War General Peleg Wadsworth, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House holds the distinction of being the oldest standing structure on the Portland peninsula. It was the first entirely brick dwelling constructed in the city. General Wadsworth and his wife raised their ten children in this two-story house with a pitched roof before moving to the family farm in Hiram, Maine, in 1807.
The significance of the house is also tied to its association with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow moved there with his parents when he was eight months old and lived there for the next 35 years. In 1815, the Longfellows expanded the house by adding a third story, adhering to the Federal architectural style.
Following Longfellow's era, Anne Longfellow Pierce was the final member of the family to live in the house. Pierce conserved the residence to capture the essence of the period when Peleg Wadsworth resided there, ensuring its historical integrity. After Pierce's passing in 1901, the Maine Historical Society inherited the house, the property, and a significant portion of its furnishings. Subsequently, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House was made accessible to the public.
Today, visitors can explore the museum and gain insight into the life and works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's beloved poets, while immersing themselves in the historical ambiance of the oldest surviving structure in Portland.
Built between 1785 and 1786 by American Revolutionary War General Peleg Wadsworth, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House holds the distinction of being the oldest standing structure on the Portland peninsula. It was the first entirely brick dwelling constructed in the city. General Wadsworth and his wife raised their ten children in this two-story house with a pitched roof before moving to the family farm in Hiram, Maine, in 1807.
The significance of the house is also tied to its association with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow moved there with his parents when he was eight months old and lived there for the next 35 years. In 1815, the Longfellows expanded the house by adding a third story, adhering to the Federal architectural style.
Following Longfellow's era, Anne Longfellow Pierce was the final member of the family to live in the house. Pierce conserved the residence to capture the essence of the period when Peleg Wadsworth resided there, ensuring its historical integrity. After Pierce's passing in 1901, the Maine Historical Society inherited the house, the property, and a significant portion of its furnishings. Subsequently, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House was made accessible to the public.
Today, visitors can explore the museum and gain insight into the life and works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's beloved poets, while immersing themselves in the historical ambiance of the oldest surviving structure in Portland.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Portland. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Wadsworth-Longfellow House on Map
Sight Name: Wadsworth-Longfellow House
Sight Location: Portland, USA (See walking tours in Portland)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Portland, USA (See walking tours in Portland)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Portland, Maine
Create Your Own Walk in Portland
Creating your own self-guided walk in Portland is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
There is no doubt that Mainers have made a great mark in the history of the United States, and the seaside city of Portland is no exception. The local architectural heritage encapsulates several centuries, reflecting various periods of American history 鈥� from the early colonial settlers' homes to the industrious Victorians and their ornate dwellings, all the way through to the modern day... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Portland Maine Introduction Walking Tour
If New York is the city that never sleeps, then Portland, Maine is the city that always dreams. Its magic is in its quiet, gentle allure. Located on the southern edge of Casco Bay, along the U.S. Atlantic coastline, Portland is known, among other things, for its picturesque natural setting.
Albeit the largest and most populous city in the State of Maine, there is a certain... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Albeit the largest and most populous city in the State of Maine, there is a certain... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles