Longfellow House

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow originally hailed from Portland, which grew to become Maine's largest city. As his hometown, the poet often wrote about his city and the water surrounding it. The Lighthouse poem about Portland Head Lighthouse, slightly south in Cape Elizabeth, rose out of this innate love of his hometown.


The Longfellow House, 489 Congress Street, was where the poet spent his youth in the first brick-only house built in this city, with brick shipped from Philadelphia (a little piece of home!). On Saturday, September 11th, we strolled over to the house to learn a little more about history. Henry's sister Anne took care of the house, which was still affixed with original furniture, style and decor. When Anne, who lived there the longest, died in 1901, she left the house to the Maine Historical Society. We took a guided tour of the house with a handful of other visitors - one man who thought he knew more than our tour guide, which made the trip much more interesting. Although we couldn't take pictures inside the house, the old-school wallpaper, painted portraits, knick knacks, bedding and authentic maps were neat and many are kept in the Maine Historical Society Library during the off season. And, yes, I love trips fused with a little bit of history!

Next stop, the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth!