Image courtesy of Portland Paddle
Looking for new ways to explore the Portland Area? Need something fresh and different to do with your out-of-town guests? Want to take advantage of these long summer nights? Here is a list of 9 great events this August that celebrate historic preservation and history of the Greater Portland region. Hope to see you there!
1) Kayak to Fort Gorges
Monday, August 7, 4:45 pm - 7:30 pm
Portland Paddle has designed a special tour of Fort Gorges for the Greater Portland Landmarks Community! Learn the latest about the preservation of this landmark while exploring the elegant granite halls, dark passageways and towering ramparts of Fort Gorges. This tour will be lead by a Portland Paddle guide who is an expert in both kayaking and Fort Gorges history. Landmarks staff will update tour attendees on why preserving the fort matters, what preservation is being done and how you can help.
We'll start off with a paddle into Portland harbor and then make the crossing out to Hog Island, where we'll land on a beach and walk around the Island. This three-hour trip is the best way to combine the experience of sea kayaking on the Maine coast with exploring one of the region's most exciting historic landmarks only accessible by small boat.
Monday, August 7, 4:45 pm - 7:30 pm
Portland Paddle
End of Cutter Street, East End Beach, Portland, ME 04101
2) Malaga Island History at Evergreen Cemetery
Sunday, August 6, 2:00 PM
Malaga Island was a fishing community with mixed race residents from 1800-1912 when the state forcibly removed the remaining residents and destroyed their homes. The events of 1911-1912 on Malaga Island are a blemish on Maine’s history. Learn about the Portlanders who toured Malaga prior to the eviction of its residents and which Portlanders worked ardently to keep the residents on the island. For more information on the island go here: http://www.malagaislandmaine.org/resources.htm
Sunday, August 6, 2:00 PM
Evergreen Cemetery
672 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME 04103
Click for more info!
3) Beatles Deconstructed: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Thursday, August 10, 6:00 pm
We have been digging mid-century modern architecture all year and we loved dancing to the Beatles at our Gala in June. Now you can learn about the history behind the iconic music at this Portland Museum of Art screening. In Deconstructing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, composer, musician, and Beatles expert Scott Freiman looks at Sgt. Pepper from multiple angles, exploring the history behind the music. Mr. Freiman conducts an educational journey into the creative process of The Beatles performances and recording sessions. Presented by musicologist Scott Freiman.
Thursday, August 10, 6:00 pm & Sunday, August 13, 2:00 pm
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square, Portland, ME 04101
Click for more info and to register!
4) One Lump or Two: Tea in the 18th Century
Saturday, August 12, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Susan McLellan Plaisted will present a living history demonstration at the South Portland Historical Society. For this program you’ll want to bring your own teacup so that you can sample the historic teas. Please come and visit at any time during the 11am to 3pm event, as this will be an on-going demonstration. This is a free event, but donations are most welcome. Ms. Plaisted is the proprietress of Heart to Hearth Cookery, a food history business based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She offers demonstrations of 17th century through 19th century Colonial American and European cooking methods, practices, and recipes, as well as pre-European-contact and post-European-contact Native American foodways.
Saturday, August 12, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
South Portland Historical Society
55 Bug Light Park, South Portland, ME 04106
Click for more info!
5) Beer in the Garden: Botanical History
Tuesday, August 15, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Botanical history in a historic Garden - theme and location don't get any more on point than that. Join Maine Historical Society in their Longfellow Garden for beer and snacks, a rare opportunity to enjoy the garden after hours and a chance to see some very special artifacts from their collections about botanical history.
Tuesday, August 15, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Maine Historical Society, Longfellow Garden
489 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
Click for more info!
6) Victorian Plumbing Tour
Tuesday, August 15, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Are you interested in learning more about how 19th century engineers brought water to cities? How about developments in sewer technology? Join Victoria Mansion's Director of Education & Visitor Services Lucinda Hannington for this tour, which will delve into the systems in place in the Mansion as well as innovations throughout the city of Portland and around the globe that made life in the nineteenth century (at least for some) much more comfortable and sanitary. The tour includes a sneak peek into the Mansion’s kitchen, not part of the regular public tour.
Tuesday, August 15, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Victoria Mansion
109 Danforth Street, Portland, ME, 04101
Click for more info and to register!
7) Stone Conservation at Eastern Cemetery
Saturday, August 26, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Spirits Alive is creating a trained team of volunteers to clean and repair stones as needed under the Cemetery Master Plan, passed by the City Council. The emphasis on these days is the practice of basic stone conservation. They will assess stones for conservation and the simple straightening and cleaning of gravestones. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, even with no experience. They will train you on cleaning and on simple stone repairs such as resetting and mortaring.
(If you don't feel like getting your hands dirty they give awesome tours of Portland's earliest Cemetery. )
Saturday, August 5 & 26 and more days in September.
Eastern Cemetery
Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
Click for more info!
8) Pancake Breakfast at the 5th Maine Regiment Museum
Sunday, August 27, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Pancakes on an island. Do I need to say more? Celebrate another great season at the 5th Maine Regiment Museum with pancakes, ham, eggs, and more! As the museum says, "come and enjoy great food, great company, and a great view!"
Sunday, August 27, 8:00 am - 11:00 am
5th Maine Regiment Museum
45 Seashore Avenue, Peaks Island, Maine 04108
Click for more info!
9) Off to the Highlands: Developing Deering’s Hillside Neighborhood
Tuesday, August 29, 2017, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
In the late 19th century the woody ledges and farmland in Deering’s Highlands emerged as one of the city’s premier residential neighborhoods. A horse drawn trolley line, introduced in 1863, helped fuel the area’s early growth, as did the aftermath of the 1866 fire and overcrowding in Portland’s peninsula neighborhoods. The first developers in Deering were looking for land for large homes with gardens and orchards in a rustic landscape.
Landmarks is wrapping up the first of a two-year survey to document these residences. Join us on August 29th to discover the history and treasures of one of Portland's most beautiful suburban neighborhoods. The evening will feature a presentation on our recent work and light refreshments.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Woodfords Club
179 Woodfords Street, Portland, ME 04103
Click for more info and to register!
Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of our control we have had to cancel on exciting event. History of Cycling in Deering Lecture and Bike Tour originally scheduled for Saturday, August 5 at 4pm has been cancelled. We hope to see you at one of these other awesome events!