Portland Observatory, 138 Congress Street, Portland, Cumberland County, ME

Suggested address, 138 Congress Street, is not verifiable in documentation.
Significance: The Portland Observatory is a maritime signal tower located on Munjoy Hill. It remains at its original location, although the area outside its fenced yard has changed -a cow pasture when the Observatory was constructed in 1807, Munjoy Hill has evolved and grown to become one of Portland's most diverse and thriving neighborhoods. The observatory is still composed of its original wood and stone materials. The seven-story octagonal structure is approximately 86' tall. At its base, the building is 32' in diameter, gently tapering to 8' in diameter at the top (lantern) level. The skeletal structure consists of three layers: timber frame, sheathing, and shingles. The tower rests upon a foundation of stones mortared together. Approximately 122 tons of stone rubble rest atop the foundation beams and act as ballast, weighing down the building.

Built in 1807 by sea captain-turned entrepreneur Lemuel Moody, the observatory served a vital function for not just the City of Portland, but a young republic whose economic depended on maritime trade. It served as a maritime signal for Portland's bustling harbor, with Moody identifying vessels entering Casco Bay and conveying this information to the citizens and, more importantly, the city's merchants and businessmen. Moody's signaling system, which employed both flags and colored balls and was unique to the Observatory, can be traced to visual communications systems that began in the ancient world.

The Observatory was in operation from 1807 to 1923, when the prevalence of radio communication between ship and shore made it a relic of the past. After 1923 the tower sat empty and fell into disrepair, until it was restored by the City of Portland with a grant from the Works Progress Administration in 1939. The tower was again called to duty during World War II when it served as a lookout tower for enemy vessels and aircraft, a role it had played in previous wars. Following the war, it resumed its life as a tourist attraction and local museum. (Text from the 2003 National Historic Landmark nomination.)
Survey number: HABS ME-1
Building/structure dates: 1807 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 73000122