Portland Observatory
Encyclopedia
The Portland Observatory, built in 1807 at Portland
, Maine
, is the last surviving maritime
signal tower
in the United States
. Using both a telescope
and signal flags, two-way communication between ship
and shore was possible several hours before an incoming vessel reached the docks.
sheltered by numerous island
s. Ships entering the harbor are not directly visible from the wharf
s, which created problems for merchant
s trying to prepare for the arrival of cargo
es. This problem was solved in 1807 when Captain Lemuel Moody organized the construction of an observatory
on Portland's Munjoy Hill
, visible from both the open ocean
and the wharfs. During the War of 1812
, the observatory was used as a watch tower.
-shaped, with a fieldstone
base, and stands 222 feet (68 m) above sea level. The observatory's 'lantern' (cupola
) included a P & J Dolland Achromatic
Refracting Telescope, which could identify ships 30 miles (48 km) to sea. That telescope disappeared from the observatory in 1939.
The observatory has been renovated numerous times over the years, including a Works Progress Administration
renovation in 1939. It was most recently renovated from 1998-2000 to repair damage from moisture and powderpost beetle
s. The latest renovation won a 2001 National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
. The center column was not an original feature, and was added in the 1939 renovation.
The observatory was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972. In 2006, the observatory was made a National Historic Landmark
.
s stored in the building and hoisted up its flagstaffs when their ships were sighted. A telephone
was eventually installed, extending the tower's function until 1923, when the reliability of engine powered vessels and communication by radio
made it obsolete.
Between the time of its closure and the 1990s, the building was often unlocked and popular among area children. Some older area residents have fond memories of playing in the building. The latest restoration left as much original wood as possible in place, distinguished by its stain where replacement was left an original color, and various carvings can be seen in the original wood.
, maintains the building. Guided tours with discussion about the history of the building and the neighborhood are provided by volunteer docent
s from Memorial Day
to Columbus Day
for a small fee.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, is the last surviving maritime
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
signal tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Using both a telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
and signal flags, two-way communication between ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
and shore was possible several hours before an incoming vessel reached the docks.
Geography
Portland has a deep harborHarbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
sheltered by numerous island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s. Ships entering the harbor are not directly visible from the wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
s, which created problems for merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s trying to prepare for the arrival of cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
es. This problem was solved in 1807 when Captain Lemuel Moody organized the construction of an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
on Portland's Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill is an historically Irish-American neighborhood and prominent geographical feature of Portland, Maine. It is located east of downtown, and south of East Deering, the neighborhood it is connected to by Tukey's Bridge.-Geography:...
, visible from both the open ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and the wharfs. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, the observatory was used as a watch tower.
About the observatory
The 86-foot (26 m) tall observatory (7 stories) is octagonal and lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
-shaped, with a fieldstone
Fieldstone
Fieldstone is a building construction material. Strictly speaking, it is stone collected from the surface of fields where it occurs naturally...
base, and stands 222 feet (68 m) above sea level. The observatory's 'lantern' (cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
) included a P & J Dolland Achromatic
Chromatic aberration
In optics, chromatic aberration is a type of distortion in which there is a failure of a lens to focus all colors to the same convergence point. It occurs because lenses have a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light...
Refracting Telescope, which could identify ships 30 miles (48 km) to sea. That telescope disappeared from the observatory in 1939.
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
renovation in 1939. It was most recently renovated from 1998-2000 to repair damage from moisture and powderpost beetle
Powderpost beetle
Powderpost beetles are a group of seventy species of woodboring beetles classified in the insect subfamily Lyctinae. These beetles, along with spider beetles, death watch beetles, common furniture beetles, skin beetles, and others, make up the superfamily Bostrichoidea. While most woodborers have a...
s. The latest renovation won a 2001 National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
. The center column was not an original feature, and was added in the 1939 renovation.
The observatory was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972. In 2006, the observatory was made a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
Past Operation
The Portland Observatory is the only remaining maritime signal station in the United States. Tower operations were paid with annual fees collected from shipping merchants, who purchased the right to have their flagFlag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
s stored in the building and hoisted up its flagstaffs when their ships were sighted. A telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
was eventually installed, extending the tower's function until 1923, when the reliability of engine powered vessels and communication by radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
made it obsolete.
Between the time of its closure and the 1990s, the building was often unlocked and popular among area children. Some older area residents have fond memories of playing in the building. The latest restoration left as much original wood as possible in place, distinguished by its stain where replacement was left an original color, and various carvings can be seen in the original wood.
Current Operation
Greater Portland Landmarks, a non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, maintains the building. Guided tours with discussion about the history of the building and the neighborhood are provided by volunteer docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
s from Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
to Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
for a small fee.