Victoria Mansion, Portland (must see)
Victoria Mansion is the city鈥檚 very own architectural gem鈥攁 dazzling example of American residential design from the mid-19th century. Built in 1860 as a summer escape for Ruggles Sylvester Morse, a hotel magnate who struck it rich in New York, Boston, and New Orleans, this mansion oozes grandeur and history.
Designed by Henry Austin, this brownstone Italianate beauty got that cool, asymmetrical flair with a four-story tower, overhanging eaves, and verandas that practically beg you to relax with a cool drink. Inside, the mansion鈥檚 charm continues with intricate frescoes and three-dimensional wall art, all thanks to the talented Giuseppe Guidicini.
The mansion had a cozy family feel until 1928, when the last member of the Libby family left. After the economic hardships of the Great Depression and the disastrous 1938 Portland flood, the house faced potential demolition (seriously, a gas station was on the cards). But, thankfully, the mansion was rescued in 1941, and lovingly restored to honor its royal inspiration鈥擰ueen Victoria.
Now listed on the National Historic Register, Victoria Mansion is a museum that transports you straight back to the opulent 19th century. It's a true testament to Portland鈥檚 rich history and an absolute must-see for anyone who enjoys a bit of grandeur, with a side of history鈥攁nd maybe royalty sprinkled in.
Designed by Henry Austin, this brownstone Italianate beauty got that cool, asymmetrical flair with a four-story tower, overhanging eaves, and verandas that practically beg you to relax with a cool drink. Inside, the mansion鈥檚 charm continues with intricate frescoes and three-dimensional wall art, all thanks to the talented Giuseppe Guidicini.
The mansion had a cozy family feel until 1928, when the last member of the Libby family left. After the economic hardships of the Great Depression and the disastrous 1938 Portland flood, the house faced potential demolition (seriously, a gas station was on the cards). But, thankfully, the mansion was rescued in 1941, and lovingly restored to honor its royal inspiration鈥擰ueen Victoria.
Now listed on the National Historic Register, Victoria Mansion is a museum that transports you straight back to the opulent 19th century. It's a true testament to Portland鈥檚 rich history and an absolute must-see for anyone who enjoys a bit of grandeur, with a side of history鈥攁nd maybe royalty sprinkled in.
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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Victoria Mansion on Map
Sight Name: Victoria Mansion
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.
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
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