Opening May 10 for special pre-season schedule!
Pre-season Weekends Only Schedule
Friday, May 10 - Sunday, May 12**, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
and
Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Guided tours starting every 30 minutes. Tour capacity: 10 people.
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Self guided, timed entry tours only. Last entry 3:30 pm. Timed entry, 10 people every 30 minutes.
**Mother’s Day Special, Moms get free entry!**
To arrange visits for larger groups, school groups or youth organizations, please contact Alessa Wylie at awylie@portlandlandmarks.org to make arrangements in advance in order to ensure that you can be accommodated.
Admission:
Adults: $10
Seniors/Students/Military: $8
Kids 16 and under: $5
Portland residents: $5
Want to give the gift of a visit to the Observatory? You can purchase vouchers that can be redeemed during the 2024 season here.
If you have questions about visiting the Portland Observatory, please check our Observatory FAQ page or call 207-253-1800.
opening may 24 for the Regular season!
Weekday Daytime Hours*:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday: 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Tuesday: 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
*All weekday tours are guided. Last tour begins at 3:30 pm. Tour capacity: 10 people.Weekday Evening Hours**:
Monday - Wednesday: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
**All evening hours are self guided, timed entry tours only. Last entry 7:30 pm. Timed entry, 10 people every 30 minutes.Saturday and Sunday Hours:
10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Guided tours starting every 30 minutes. Tour capacity: 10 people.
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Self guided, timed entry tours only. Last entry 3:30 pm. Timed entry, 10 people every 30 minutes.
History of the Tower
In 1807 Captain Lemuel Moody (1768-1846), ordered construction of this octagonal, 86-foot high tower on Munjoy Hill to serve as a communication station for Portland’s bustling harbor. It was a commercial venture designed to give a competitive edge to ship owners who paid Moody a subscription fee of $5.00 a year to alert them when their ships were arriving.
At the time, ships entering the harbor could not be seen from the docks of Portland until they rounded the point of land at Spring Point Ledge and were almost in the harbor.
With his powerful telescope at the top of the tower, sea captain-turned-entrepreneur Moody could identify incoming vessels as far away as 30 miles. Moody informed subscribing merchants by hoisting signal flags identifying their vessels.
This signal tower communication greatly increased the efficiency of Portland Harbor and the Observatory remained a working marine signal tower run by the Moody family until 1923 when the invention of the two-way radio made it obsolete.
The Observatory fell into disrepair and was donated to the City of Portland. Restorations were done and the tower opened to tourists in 1939.
In 1984 Greater Portland Landmarks assumed management of the tower, opening it for regular tours. Then, ten years later, inspections revealed serious moisture damage and an infestation of powder-post beetles. The City of Portland and concerned citizens collaborated with Greater Portland Landmarks to once again restore the Observatory. The tower was saved and reopened in 2000.
The Portland Observatory is the only remaining historic maritime signal station in the United States. As an intact survivor from the Golden Age of Sail, the Observatory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, became a National Historic Landmark in 2006, and named a National Civil Engineering Landmark in 2006. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2007.
(2024: The Portland Observatory is currently owned by the City of Portland and operated as an educational site by Greater Portland Landmarks.)
Want more of the Portland Observatory?
During the pandemic, our docents recorded their favorite Observatory stories. Watch them on YouTube or follow the Observatory on Facebook @PortlandObservatory!
Our videos are free, but please consider making a donation to support education at Landmarks.