The Portland Observatory

The Portland Observatory

138 Congress Street, Portland

Open for tours Memorial Day Weekend – Columbus Day Weekend

Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 6-16,

$5.00 for Portland resident adults and $2.00 for Portland resident children

The observatory has a limit of 48 people at one time and an 8 person maximum on observation deck

    

     On September 8^th, our class went on a field trip to the Portland Observatory.  The 86-foot high (220 feet above sea level), octagon-shaped red building with light green window trim, tapers to a light green, dome-topped observation deck which commands an awe-inspiring panoramic view of Portland harbor, greater Portland and beyond.  Upon entering the building, the first thing that I noticed was the unmistakable aroma of aged pine boards.  This olfactory sensation served to help propel us back to the time of the building’s 1807 inception. With the exception of two significant renovations to address structural concerns, moisture and powder post beetle damage, the Observatory is original.  On the entry level floor we were shown a trap door which reveals the innovative stone ballast foundation below.  After ascending the first set of stairs, our tour guide gave a mini lecture about the history of the building and its uses.  The next set of stairs brought us to another floor with additional displays (one of the displays features an early painting of the observatory when it was one of the very few structures in the middle of a large cow pasture).  There are four sets of stairs (somewhat uneven) and 4 floors each with interesting facts and displays.  On one of the floors was a scale model (based on recent detective work of modern building engineers) showing how the eight massive vertical pine timbers were most likely erected (no original records detailing the tower’s construction have survived).  A fifth set of stairs leads to the outside observation deck.  Visitors are not allowed access to dome-topped observation enclosure, where the powerful telescope was once mounted.  However, a 360-degree deck with railing affords a perfectly unobstructed view.  Two interesting design features of the observatory are the octagonal walls and the stone ballast grounding system.  By utilizing the octagonal shape the wind resistance, especially of taller structures, is dramatically reduced.  Instead of having the wind hit broad sides with greater force, the wind is largely deflected off the smaller octagonal segments.  There is no section of wall that is more than 10 feet in width.  As someone very familiar with sailing ships, Moody was well aware of the functions of ballast.  The structure is anchored to the ground with a massive collection of field stone slabs.

     The Portland Observatory was the brainchild of Capt. Lemuel Moody (1768-1846).  The former sea captain commissioned its construction in 1807.  As a man of the sea and entrepreneur, Moody knew the value of having a clear view of the open ocean beyond the islands of Portland Harbor.  By erecting the 86-foot observatory on Munjoy Hill, the highest point in Portland, he was able (with the aid of a state-of-the-art telescope) to see and identify ships up to 30 miles out to sea.  Through the use of a sophisticated flagging system, he was able to signal local merchants by raising the appropriate flag that would designate the ship that they were awaiting.  In these days before steam power, having this kind of advance identification, gave hours and sometimes days of advance warning, depending on the winds.  Because of Maine’s vital maritime business this kind of information was invaluable in helping in the planning and coordinating of deliveries and shipments.  In addition to his signaling system, Moody provided a local weather report based on his observations.  Interested parties would subscribe to his weather publication. 

The observatory carried on its signaling operations from the time of its construction in 1807 to 1926.  During the War of 1812, Civil War, and WWI it was used as an observation post.  The Observatory has been owned by the City of Portland since 1936.  In 1939, the tower was restored as part of a WPA project.  Between 1998 and 2000 a $1.28 million restoration project addressed damage caused by moisture and powder post beetle infestation. 

The Portland Observatory is an amazingly well-maintained and preserved connection to Maine’s proud and prosperous maritime past.  It is a must-see for anyone from away or from just down the street.