In an age when most Americans would be hard-pressed to name more than a few of their country’s poets, it might seem unlikely that poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was one of the most famous Americans of his time, and known around the world. But, with epic poems celebrating America’s history, including “Paul Revere’s Ride” and “The Song of Hiawatha,” that was exactly the case.
Longfellow spent most of the first 35 years of his life in the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, which is now open to the public. “Ah,” he wrote, “to build, to build! That is the noblest of all the arts.” When this house was constructed in 1786, it was the first dwelling in Portland made entirely of brick. Today it’s the oldest standing structure on the Porland Peninsula, and full of originial furnishing that charts the fluctuations of 19th-century American taste. Friendly tour guides make the history come alive. And don’t miss the Longfellow Garden behind the house, a peaceful place in the middle of bustling Portland.
Travel Tips
While you’re at the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, check out the Maine Historical Society’s adjacent gallery. Here you’ll find a revolving series of exhibits displaying different aspects of Maine’s rich history, and, in the gift shop, an extensive collection of Maine history books, as well as other souvenirs.
Travel Information
Wadsworth-Longfellow House
489 Congress St.
Portland, ME
207.774.1822
Hours and Admission:
For current hours and admission information, click here.
For more, visit: www.mainehistory.org