Portland Observatory

Ahoy, Portland! 🏴‍☠️

Tomorrow, Saturday, 9/19, is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and we're celebrating at the Portland Observatory! Talk like a pirate when you buy your ticket and you'll get $2 off admission. Arrr you ready?

📅 Saturday, September 19 only
🕙 Open 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
⚓ Guided tours: 10:00 to 11:30, starting every half hour
🔭 Self-guided tours: 12:30 to 3:30

Bring your best pirate accent, and don't be shy about it. The saltier, the better! We can't wait to see you, mateys. 🦜

Image partially created with AI.

We had a blast hosting campers from ALM Sports Camp recently! Since these kids know a thing or two about teamwork and a good challenge, we asked them to help us raise the Sea Dogs flag in honor of their home game that day — and they crushed it (the flag-raising and the 104 steps to the top).

We love welcoming camps, school groups, and young explorers of all kinds to the Observatory. Our docents make every visit feel like an adventure, and it's always a treat to see kids come back years later, as adults, with fond memories of climbing those steps for the first time.

Whether it's Portland's maritime history, the ocean that's shaped this city for centuries, or just the incredible view from the top, there's something for every kid to discover here.

Planning a camp trip or group outing? We offer private group tours for any age! Reach out to book yours by visiting our website at portlandlandmarks.org

Last night was a wonderful evening for the Portland Observatory community. Our newly formed Docent Activities Committee organized its first gathering, a picnic at Two Lights State Park, and it was a great success.

With over 50 active docents giving tours seven days a week, we rarely get the chance to all be in the same place at the same time. This committee is changing that, and we could not be happier about it.

The weather was perfect. The food was fantastic, with a special shout out to our baking docents who brought plenty of homemade treats to share. And the company was the best part of all. Docents were joined by Observatory and Greater Portland Landmarks staff for an evening of good conversation and good company.

It was a nice reminder to slow down, relax, and appreciate the beautiful place we get to call home.

This morning we welcomed two amazing vessels to Portland Harbor: the USCGC Eagle and the topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II.

This photo shows Eagle’s arrival this morning, escorted by tugs Andrew McAllister and Roderick McAllister.

Like Captain Moody did for so many years here at the Observatory, we also raised signal flags indicating a bark and schooner are in port.

~ Site Manager Kori

IMPORTANT NEWS: Due to the National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warning, we'll be closed Thursday and Friday, July 2 & 3. Our beloved historic tower is not climate controlled and we want our guests, docents, and site managers to stay safe in the heat. We'll also be closed on July 4th. Stay cool and we'll see you Sunday, July 5!

We are so glad to fly the Pride flag at the Portland Observatory all month long. Landmarks are for everyone and all people should see their history in what we preserve. Greater Portland Landmarks and the Observatory strive to be safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ visitors and community members. Happy Pride, Portland!

Today we celebrate Juneteenth and the Black history rooted in Portland. On Munjoy Hill, in the shadow of the Portland Observatory, stands Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church at 46 Sheridan Street. It was founded in 1891 by Moses Samuel Green, born into slavery and later the wealthiest African American in Portland, and Ellen Odin, whose leadership inspired women in the congregation to mentor young girls for generations.

The church completed their Sheridan Street home in 1914. By mid-century it was central to Portland's Black community, from Thursday night chicken dinners scheduled on domestic workers' day off, to civil rights work that reached Maine's senators and the March on Washington.

In 1973 it became the first building in Maine listed on the National Register of Historic Places specifically for its African American history. As Reverend Kenneth Lewis said in 2018, "Sunday is the most segregated day in the United States. But not at the corner of Monument and Sheridan."

Read the full story on our website: https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/gplblog

Image: "Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 1961" (1961). Businesses & Buildings - Portland Newspapers (Guy Gannett) Still Film Negatives. 187.