Greater Portland Landmarks

10/23/2026

A Monument to Commerce: The US Custom House and Portland’s Waterfront Legacy

Few buildings are as recognizable as the US Custom House on Fore Street, but did you know it wasn’t Portland’s first? Join us for an illustrated conversation with Jeff Porter, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Portland, as he shares an insider’s history of this granite landmark, built after the Great Fire of 1866. Through historic images and engaging stories, you’ll discover what historic public buildings preserve and what they still have to teach us.

Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 5:30pm
Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library - Downtown Branch
$5 ticket required, buy here: https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/a-monument-to-commerce-the-us-custom-house-and-portlands-waterfront-legacy

Tours of the Custom House will be offered the Friday and Saturday following the program for an additional ticket price.

Program in partnership with Portland Public Library.

10/22/2026

Less than a week until the Preservation Awards Bash! 🎺

Ragtime Destroyers are bringing the party. Our award winners video makes its debut. And you’re invited to celebrate the people and places that shape Portland.

October 27. Come ready to dance, cheer, and toast preservation.

Don’t miss it. Get your ticket today, https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/shop/2026preservationawardsbashtkts

10/18/2026

This post was written by recent GPL intern, Erich Chase, as he combed through our archives and resources for walking tours to compile and analyze. This gave him a chance to dig a little deeper into one of his favorite houses, located at 53 Chadwick Street.

The Thomas J. Burrage House (1931) is one of the most unique houses in Portland. Thomas J. Burrage, M.D. (1875-1952) was a long-time Portland physician who graduated from Brown University in 1898 and Harvard Medical School in 1903. Burrage served in both World Wars, founded the local American Legion unit, and was associated with the Red Cross for several years.

While the importance of Dr. Burrage can’t be denied, the building itself stands nearly alone, as one of a few Tudor-revival structures in the city. Tudor-revival is an architectural style meant to evoke Tudor period (1485-1603) buildings (think centuries-old buildings with wattle-and-daub infill and exposed wood beams). The first-floor exterior of the Burrage House is brick and stone, while the higher elevation is stucco and oak timbers. The house also contains steel casement windows, and the interior incorporates some English “period” detail.

Tudor-revival only really became popular in America post-1920s, and didn’t really catch on in Maine. This timeline answers why the Burrage House is nearly alone in its style in Portland. The West End was well established at the time of its construction, having escaped the 1866 fire and subsequent building boom. There wasn’t much room to build, but Burrage squeezed this unique house in on Chadwick Street.

Most of the house (including interiors) is as it was in 1931, save for remodeling of the breakfast room in 1967. Greater Portland Landmarks retains a sample of what is believed to be original 1931 wallpaper (found when the breakfast room was remodeled again in early 2003).

53 Chadwick Photo Courtesy: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/53-Chadwick-St-Portland-ME-04102/84951497_zpid/

10/17/2026

We are thrilled to recognize Thornton Tomasetti as a Pillar Sponsor of the 2026 Preservation Awards Bash!

Preserving historic buildings takes engineering that respects the past while planning for the future. Thornton Tomasetti brings more than 30 years of historic preservation experience, and their Portland office is part of that work close to home.

As a Pillar Sponsor, Thornton Tomasetti helps us preserve special places and encourage development that serves and inspires those who live, work, and visit Portland today and in the future.

Join us in celebrating our city and award winners! Get your tickets to the Awards Bash today! Link in bio or click https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/shop/2026preservationawardsbashtkts

10/16/2026

This week, Greater Portland Landmarks and Mechanics' Hall presented the second program in our Temples of Knowledge series, "From Classroom to Community: New Lives for Historic Schools."

Kevin Bunker of Developers Collaborative, Chris Beard of Essex Preservation Consulting, and Will Hopkins of Archetype Architects led a lively panel discussion on the challenges and rewards of adapting historic schools for new uses. They looked at three projects the firms worked on together, and the audience joined in with thoughtful questions. Before the program, we were also fortunate enough to offer a tour of the former Reed School, one of the projects discussed that evening. From a defunct school to a bustling day care center and apartment complex (complete with chalkboards in the units!), it is the epitome of successful adaptive reuse.

Thank you to our panelists, to everyone who joined us in the Mechanics’ Hall library, to Mechanics’ Hall for being such a wonderful partner, and to Developers Collaborative for sponsoring the series.

Join us for the final program, "Learning Beyond School: Member-Supported Libraries and the Pursuit of Knowledge", on December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at Mechanics’ Hall. Tickets are available now. https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/templesofknowledge

10/16/2026

Less than two weeks until the Preservation Awards Bash!

October 27. Seven winners. One night celebrating the people and places that make Portland feel like home.

Get your tickets today @ https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/shop/2026preservationawardsbashtkts

10/15/2026

60 years of safeguards, one vote to lose it all. Watch this video and then contact Senator King's office with this message: vote NO on the permitting bill that will virtually eliminate protections for historic places. History belongs to the people.

10/14/2026

We are thrilled to recognize Gardner Real Estate Group as an official sponsor of the 2026 Preservation Awards Bash!

For more than 35 years, Gardner Real Estate Group has helped Portlanders find their place in the city, from single-family homes and condos to multi-family buildings and large development projects. Owner and broker Ed Gardner knows that a strong community depends on the people and places that hold it together.

Sponsors like Gardner Real Estate Group help us preserve special places and encourage development that serves and inspires those who live, work, and visit Portland today and in the future.

Join us in celebrating our city and award winners! Get your tickets to the Awards Bash today! Link in bio or click https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/shop/2026preservationawardsbashtkts

10/13/2026

Thank you Maine Association of Nonprofits for sharing our mission and work!

🌟 Nonprofit Member Highlight: Greater Portland Landmarks

“🏛️Founded in 1964, Greater Portland Landmarks is the region’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and supporting the architectural character and livability of Portland, Maine. 🕰️ Greater Portland Landmarks uses the city’s historic buildings, culture, and stories as catalysts for connection, affordability, and resilience. In addition to stewarding the Portland Observatory, they provide engaging programming, walking tours, advocacy support, and host annual events to promote and celebrate historic preservation. 📚 By combining advocacy and education, Greater Portland Landmarks is able to support and strengthen the preservation of our special places, share stories that shape our community and connect us to Portland’s history, and promote policies and development that serve and inspire those who live, work, and visit Portland.”

📜 Learn more at: http://portlandlandmarks.org

🎉 Member Since 2011 🎉 Thank you for being part of MANP’s statewide network of 1,300+ nonprofit members and partners across business, government, and philanthropy. Together, we strengthen Maine!

📸 Photo courtesy of Greater Portland Landmarks

10/11/2026

GPL had the pleasure of working with intern, Erich Chase last month. Erich completed a focused compilation and analysis of GPL walking tours, past and present as part of an effort to update our offerings and make them more accessible to the public. We asked him to tell our supporters a little about himself and the work he’s done here.

“I have a passion for local history and archaeology, and am a long-time volunteer turned paid guide at the Victoria Mansion here in Portland. I am about to begin my second year of graduate school (Master of Arts in Museology program at the University of Washington) and received a BA in Archaeology (Latin America) degree from Lycoming College in 2024.

“At Greater Portland Landmarks, I have been learning a lot of information relating to Portland’s various neighborhoods (along with their architectural styles). I have been working hard at consolidating walking tour information, as well as copying information from over 20 tours (finished and unfinished) tied to GPL into an Excel spreadsheet. Look for a future social media post where I’ll share one of my favorite houses in Portland.”