Portland Observatory

[Corey]

Obligatory background information from www.portlandlandmarks.org

It's not a lighthouse! (And it has nothing to do with astronomy.) The Portland Observatory (1807) is the only extant maritime signal station in the United States, and thus a unique architectural icon of maritime shipping and the "Golden Age of Sail." The Portland Observatory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and became a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

Sea captain-turned-entrepreneur, Lemuel Moody (1768-1846), ordered construction of this octagonal, 86 feet-high tower to serve as a communication station for Portland's bustling harbor. With his powerful telescope, Moody identified incoming vessels and then signaled merchants with coded signal flags. "Signalizing" allowed merchants ample time to reserve a berth on the wharves, and to hire a crew of stevedores before a vessel docked.

The Observatory was built at the eastern end of the Portland peninsula on Munjoy Hill, which was a cow pasture at the time. Moody built his home and other buildings near the tower. The complex was replete with banquet and dance halls as well as a bowling alley. From the time it opened in 1807, it was a tourist attraction.

They had a 200th anniversary celebration on Thursday June 14th, 2007 with free admission. It's funny how most of us who live here have never been up it before. I was glad to finally take in the view. The weather started clearing up as the afternoon proceeded, so the view were pretty nice.

Click me

 

[TheBostonBoy]

wow Corey, thanks for the pictures....These are great, I've never seen Portland like this. It really shows how beautiful it is.

 

[SHAZBAT73]

Lookin' good! I this is the first time I've seen how the new Hilton and Bangor Savings Bank blend into the Oldport/Marginal Way area. See lots of construction too...always a good thing...Great pics!