Historic Perspectives of Park Street Walking Tour (Jane’s Walk Maine 2024)
May 4 @ 2:00 am - 3:00 pm
A free walking tour, offered as part of Jane’s Walk Maine 2024!
Explore Park Street, part of the West End Historic District, a well-preserved time capsule that offers a glimpse into 19th-century Portland. This one-hour stroll will highlight some of the people who helped create this fashionable residential enclave – which at the time was considered “the most beautiful neighborhood in Portland.” We’ll showcase the popular architectural styles of the 19th century and learn more about the people who built them and the movements to preserve them during times of urban renewal. Park Street’s history encompasses working-class and upper-class neighborhoods, culinary endeavors, hot-button issues of 19th-century politics, and more.
The walk will end at Victoria Mansion on the corner of Park and Danforth Streets, a singular example of the Italianate villa style and one of the greatest examples of American residential architecture prior to the Civil War. For those who would like to continue the conversation, we’ll wind up on Victoria Mansion’s back lawn for a discussion about four decades of intensive conservation and restoration work at this National Historic Landmark.
ACCESSIBILITY:
The approximately half-mile walk travels the length of Park Street from Congress to Danforth, a small residential street that is primarily comprised of a historic brick sidewalk. There is free on-street parking and there are two handicapped-accessible parking spaces immediately adjacent to Victoria Mansion at the corner of Park and Danforth Streets.
STARTING LOCATION:
Lafayette Square Apartments, 638 Congress Street (corner of Park and Congress Streets)
ENDING LOCATION:
The walk will end at Victoria Mansion on the corner of Park and Danforth Streets.
Portland, Maine 04101
ABOUT JANE’S WALK:
Jane’s Walk is a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walks combine the simple act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history, and civic engagement. Learn more at MainePreservation.org.