Congress Street, Portland
Congress Street is the city鈥檚 main artery, stretching from the city鈥檚 western edge all the way to the sunny slopes of the Eastern Promenade. In March 2009, the City Council stamped its seal of approval on much of the inner blocks by declaring them a historic district鈥攐ne that pulses with galleries, studios, and caf茅s in the Arts District to the west.
Back in the early 1700s, British settlers clustered around the waterfront at what we now call India Street. Meanwhile, a modest lane named Back Street was laid out inland, lined with the town鈥檚 earliest landmarks: a 1740 meetinghouse for the First Parish, and hay scales in what would become Monument Square. By the time the Revolutionary War drums were pounding, Back Street marked the edge of town. Two centuries later, its grown-up name, Congress Street, came into official use in 1823鈥攎aking it the place where politics, parades, and Portland鈥檚 vibrant everyday life collide.
Hop eastward and you鈥檒l discover the Etz Chaim Synagogue, built in 1921 near Munjoy Hill. It鈥檚 a rare survivor of Maine鈥檚 immigrant-era synagogues and, as of 2011, the state鈥檚 only one still in service. From colonial origins to modern-day art walk, Congress Street tells Portland鈥檚 story in brick, granite, and a dash of flair鈥攐ne block at a time.
Back in the early 1700s, British settlers clustered around the waterfront at what we now call India Street. Meanwhile, a modest lane named Back Street was laid out inland, lined with the town鈥檚 earliest landmarks: a 1740 meetinghouse for the First Parish, and hay scales in what would become Monument Square. By the time the Revolutionary War drums were pounding, Back Street marked the edge of town. Two centuries later, its grown-up name, Congress Street, came into official use in 1823鈥攎aking it the place where politics, parades, and Portland鈥檚 vibrant everyday life collide.
Hop eastward and you鈥檒l discover the Etz Chaim Synagogue, built in 1921 near Munjoy Hill. It鈥檚 a rare survivor of Maine鈥檚 immigrant-era synagogues and, as of 2011, the state鈥檚 only one still in service. From colonial origins to modern-day art walk, Congress Street tells Portland鈥檚 story in brick, granite, and a dash of flair鈥攐ne block at a time.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Portland. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: 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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Congress Street on Map
Sight Name: Congress Street
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.
Portland Maine Introduction Walking Tour
If New York is the city that never sleeps, Portland, Maine, is the city that daydreams with an ocean breeze. Jutting out into Casco Bay, this coastal gem balances big-city energy with the easygoing warmth of a neighborhood you鈥檝e known your whole life.
Long before lobster shacks and artisan coffee shops, the Algonquian people (populous indigenous American group) called this land... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Long before lobster shacks and artisan coffee shops, the Algonquian people (populous indigenous American group) called this land... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Portland, Maine may be small, but it packs centuries of history into its streets. Think of it as a living scrapbook鈥攕ome pages sing in stone, others whisper in brick, and all of them survived the city鈥檚 Great Fire of 1866, which could鈥檝e erased it all. Instead, Portland rebuilt in style, and today you can wander its historic core spotting everything from colonial leftovers to Victorian... 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