Victoria Mansion, Portland (must see)

Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House or Morse-Libby Mansion, stands as a remarkable representation of American residential architecture situated in the heart of downtown Portland. This elegant brownstone Italianate villa, completed in 1860, was originally intended as a summer retreat for Ruggles Sylvester Morse, a prominent hotelier who had ventured beyond Maine to amass his fortune in the hotel industry in New York, Boston, and New Orleans.

The house was designed by the esteemed architect Henry Austin, boasting a distinctively asymmetrical structure characterized by a four-story tower, overhanging eaves, inviting verandas, and ornate windows. Adding to its allure, the interior of the mansion showcases intricate frescoes and captivating three-dimensional wall decorations, masterfully crafted by the talented artist and decorator Giuseppe Guidicini.

After serving as a cherished family residence, the mansion witnessed a change in ownership when the last of the Libby family members departed in 1928. Unfortunately, the subsequent economic downturn of the Great Depression, coupled with the devastating 1938 Portland flood, led to the repossession of the house in 1939 due to unpaid taxes. The fate of the abandoned mansion hung in the balance, with plans even surfacing for its demolition to make way for a gas station, proposed by an oil company.

However, the property was saved by William H. Holmes, who recognized the historical significance of the building. Determined to protect its architectural grandeur, Holmes purchased the house in 1941 and lovingly transformed it into the Victoria Mansion, paying homage to Britain's esteemed Queen Victoria.

Victoria Mansion was added to the National Historic Register. Today, it continues to thrive as a captivating museum, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the opulent splendor of nineteenth-century America.