Archive for Blog

Director of Education & Visitor Services Lucinda Hannington to Speak at Portland Ballet’s Victorian Nutcracker

This year, as part of Victoria Mansion’s expanded partnership with Portland Ballet, Director of Education & Visitor Services Lucinda Hannington will be speaking to audiences at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center and Merrill Auditorium prior to productions of the Victorian Nutcracker on December 17, 18, and 23. The…

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grant

In September, the Mansion was awarded a prestigious IMLS grant for the Museums of America program. The grant will partially fund the restoration of  the original painted finishes of the walls and ceilings of the Reception Room, part of the only extant architectural commission by artist Giuseppe Guidicini. The project will…

Christmas Merchandise Sneak Peek: The Early Bird Gets the Gift!

Museum Shop Manager Patti Chase has been giving visitors a sneak peek and early opportunity to purchase some of the lovely ornaments, decorations, and gifts curated by our buyer Alice Dwyer Ross for this holiday season. Stopping by the Carriage House Museum Shop has become a tradition for…

A Visit from Ellen Libby Lawrence

Ellen Libby Lawrence, the sole surviving grandchild of J.R. Libby, visited the Mansion in late August with her son Franklin, a former Mansion trustee. A generous supporter of Victoria Mansion for decades, Ellen has donated original Morse and Libby objects and provided information about the Libby family that…

September 23-25: The Mansion Welcomes the National Garden Club

We are very excited to be hosting the National Garden Club from September 23-25! These talented florists and designers from all over the country will be using the Mansion as their inspiration, creating fresh and dried arrangements to be placed throughout the house. The arrangements will be on…

Cruise Ship Season is Underway!

It’s that time of year again when Portland welcomes thousands of international visitors and the cruise ship season kicks into high gear. This year, the city will host 28 ships in September and 18 ships in October, with a and total of 76 cruise ships before the season’s…

A Currier & Ives Christmas at Victoria Mansion

It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas here at the Mansion! Plans began in March to create a nostalgic wonderland for this year’s Christmas season. Look forward to designs inspired by the illustrious nineteenth-century print-makers and complimenting the Mansion’s original interiors. In addition to the fabulous…

Admissions Up 20%!

The 2016 season is underway and it is our busiest yet with admission up by 20%! The Mansion has been visited by over 10,500 people this season alone, including bus tours and visitors from all over the world. Thanks to our new self-guided, free-flow tour system on Tuesdays,…

The Mansion Featured in the New York Times

The Mansion was recently featured in the New York Times article, “36 Hours in Portland, Maine” on July 28th. We are in fantastic company with the Portland Museum of Art, the Wadsworth Longfellow House, Central Provisions, and Becky’s Diner, to name a few. We are looking forward to…

Docent Outing: Sunset Cruise

Last Thursday, August 4th, Mansion staff and docents enjoyed a lovely sunset cruise on Casco Bay. It was just a small way to thank everyone for all the great work they do. We are hoping to make it a new Mansion tradition! If you are interested in joining…