Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Home

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House is one of the most important historic homes in New England and the childhood residence of the celebrated American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Located in the heart of Portland, the house stands as a lasting reminder of both early American history and the literary legacy of one of the nation’s most beloved writers.

The home was built between 1785 and 1786 by Peleg Wadsworth, Longfellow’s grandfather. At the time of its construction, it was the largest and most elegant house in Portland, reflecting the prosperity and prominence of the Wadsworth family. Peleg Wadsworth had served as a general during the American Revolutionary War and later became a respected political leader in the new nation.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland in 1807 and spent his childhood in this home. Within its rooms he developed the early interests in literature and language that would later shape his career. Longfellow eventually became one of America’s most widely read poets, known for works such as Paul Revere’s Ride and The Song of Hiawatha.

The house remained in the Longfellow family for several generations before being preserved as a historic site. In 1901 it was opened to the public as a museum, making it the first historic house museum in Maine. Today it is operated by the Maine Historical Society.

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House continues to attract visitors interested in American literature and early American history. As one of the few surviving eighteenth-century homes in Portland, it preserves the memory of both a distinguished family and a poet whose writings helped shape the nation’s cultural heritage.

_____
Image Source/Credit:
• Maine Historical Society | Wadsworth-Longfellow House (www.mainehistory.org/plan-your-visit/wadsworth-longfellow-house)