The Wadsworth-Longfellow House is the childhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the oldest standing home on Portland’s peninsula. Now a museum, it invites visitors into the lives of the three generations of the Wadsworth-Longfellow family who lived here. Learn more about their remarkable lives and the effect they had on local and American history.
Find the three-story brick home on charming Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine. General Peleg Wadsworth and his wife Elizabeth completed the house in 1786 and raised 10 children under its roof. Their daughter Zilpah and her husband Stephen Longfellow IV were married here and Zilpah gave birth to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on February 27, 1807. Henry, who grew up at the house, went on to become one of the most famous poets in American history.
In addition to its cultural significance, learn about the Wadsworth-Longfellow House’s role in the Revolutionary War. During the Siege of Boston, from July 1775 to April 1776, it served as headquarters for General George Washington.
Take a guided tour and learn more about the Wadsworth-Longfellow family life. Admire the furnishings, nearly all of which are intact from the original inhabitants. In the front hall, a painted floorcloth has covered the floor since 1852. Check out the portrait of George Washington hanging above the mantelpiece in the parlor. Behind the parlor, step into the summer dining room, where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his poem The Rainy Day. Most of the rooms in the house are open to the public.
Outside, stroll through the Longfellow Garden. The beautifully landscaped plot, which is crisscrossed with meandering paths, features an array of flowers and topiary.
Visit the Wadsworth-Longfellow House between May and October. Purchase your tickets at the entry gate and enjoy special rates for families, seniors and students. Because of its downtown location, it is easily accessibly on foot. If you’re driving, park in the Maine Historical Society’s pay-to-park lot or use one of the metered parking spaces or parking garages nearby.
