Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House in Portland is a historically significant landmark that holds both architectural and literary importance. The house serves as a museum that showcases the legacy of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who spent a significant part of his childhood within its walls.

Built between 1785 and 1786 by American Revolutionary War General Peleg Wadsworth, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House holds the distinction of being the oldest standing structure on the Portland peninsula. It was the first entirely brick dwelling constructed in the city. General Wadsworth and his wife raised their ten children in this two-story house with a pitched roof before moving to the family farm in Hiram, Maine, in 1807.

The significance of the house is also tied to its association with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow moved there with his parents when he was eight months old and lived there for the next 35 years. In 1815, the Longfellows expanded the house by adding a third story, adhering to the Federal architectural style.

Following Longfellow's era, Anne Longfellow Pierce was the final member of the family to live in the house. Pierce conserved the residence to capture the essence of the period when Peleg Wadsworth resided there, ensuring its historical integrity. After Pierce's passing in 1901, the Maine Historical Society inherited the house, the property, and a significant portion of its furnishings. Subsequently, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House was made accessible to the public.

Today, visitors can explore the museum and gain insight into the life and works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's beloved poets, while immersing themselves in the historical ambiance of the oldest surviving structure in Portland.