After a thorough dry-cleaning of the room's walls and ceiling, (as much of the painted decoration is water-based), the next phase of the major conservation project in the Mansion's Parlor looms near: the application of a protective barrier varnish on the original 1860's paint to protect and preserve it for decades to come. Once [...]
Nineteenth-century American artists looked to Europe as the omphalos of culture. The painters flocked to Paris, while the sculptors migrated to Florence and Rome, where they could obtain the marble, the mentors, and the ancient models they required to fashion their neo-classical compositions. These expatriate artists chose “’ideal’ subjects—themes from literature, mythology, [...]
The very first delivery of cargo by air to Portland, Maine in July of 1926 included some unexpected freight: a shipment of high-end dresses from New York City for the J.R. Libby Department Store. Though the store's founder and namesake-- and second owner of the Mansion-- J.R. Libby had passed away in 1917, his son [...]
While our doors may be closed to the public, we are opening the Mansion up to local schools who are taking part in our A Century of Change school curriculum. Elementary schools from around Cumberland County have the opportunity to select from 8 lessons that look at the changes over time that created the world we now [...]
Now in its eighth month, the conservation project to clean and stabilize the walls and ceiling of the Parlor is still in progress, and with the completion of our successful Christmas season the room is once again a hive of activity as conservators complete a second pass cleaning the original 1860 decoration of the room [...]
As we close the books and crunch the numbers for another successful holiday season, we are delighted to report that visitation has been steadily on the rise. Though we saw a slight decrease in visitation in 2016 and 2017, the Mansion welcomed over 33,000 people by the end of December and we expect to see [...]
This year's Gala was a great success, raising nearly $20,000 for the Mansion's preservation and educational initiatives. Guests enjoyed fabulous food provided by the Cumberland Club, the musical stylings of Viva, signature cocktails, and and great company within the Mansion's decked out interiors. Thank you to our generous patrons, event partners, and to all [...]
Follow the links and watch the videos below to learn more about the Mansion's 2019 holiday season. Now in its fourth decade, 'Christmas at Victoria Mansion' has become a beloved tradition for many in the Greater Portland area and beyond! Portland Press Herald Society Notebook: Click HERE for images and a rundown of Victoria [...]
On August 20, the Mansion welcomed Marjorie Willits Albright, a college roomate of the late Libby descendant Ellen Libby Lawrence, who passed away at the age of 101 last October. Marjorie remembered eating in the Mansion's Dining Room and sleeping in one of the bedrooms upstairs when she was visiting Portland with Ellen on a [...]
On July 24, the Mansion welcomed Libby descendant Mary Marcell--and with her came some precious cargo indeed. Mary arrived with four wine glasses, four cordial glasses, two pot de crème, and a soup bowl, all original to the Morse table service. She also brought a needlepoint sampler, silver nut dish, silver hand mirror and powder [...]
