KidsPORT
Students in the Greater Portland area working to restore the Portland Observatory
The Observatory is Portland's most famous landmark. It is the last remaining signal tower in the United States. It reminds us that Portland began as a seaport over 200 years ago. It has survived many things over the years, including 20 hurricanes and a fire which burned down most of the rest of the city. Today the Brown Tower, as it came to be known, is a familiar part of the Portland skyline. It stands unchanged on Munjoy Hill, while a city has grown up around it.
Why is the building in such bad shape?
The Observatory was built 190 years ago. The outside shingles don't overlap enough to keep the weather out. Water softened the old wood, and insects were then able to cause more damage.
The wooden frame of the Observatory will be carefully taken apart. Every piece will be checked to see if it can be fixed and used again. If not, a new piece will be made out of the same kind of wood to match the old. The Observatory will be rebuilt as close as possible to its original form.
Restoring the Observatory in this way is very expensive. It cost only $5,000 to build the Observatory in 1807. Restoring it will cost $1,000,000!
Home - KidsPORT - Portland Observatory - Teacher Page - Kids' Page
This page was written by Danielle,
third grade, Cape Elizabeth.
If you would like more information, or have information about the Observatory you would like posted on this web site, drop us a note!
mail to:kidsPort
Greater Portland Landmarks wishes to thank Ren Wilkinson and the students of Pond Cove Elementary School for coordinating KidsPORT and for the content of the KidsPORT web pages. Their fundraising efforts collected over $5,000 for the restoration of the Portland Observatory.