Custom House Conversation

About this event

A Monument To Commerce: The US Custom House and Portland's Waterfront Legacy Few buildings are as recognizable in Portland as the US Custom House on Fore Street. This granite landmark was the third of Portland’s Custom Houses, built just after the Great Fire of 1866 to oversee what was one of the busiest ports on the East Coast. Occupying an entire city block between Fore and Commercial streets and boasting grand interiors, two-story vaults, dungeons, and connections to Joshua Chamberlain and the first Senate race in the country between two female candidates, it holds much more than federal offices. Join us for an illustrated conversation with Jeff Porter, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Portland, as he shares an insider’s history of this stalwart monument. Through historic images and engaging stories, you will learn how the building’s architecture and use reflect the importance of Portland’s maritime economy, and the role of customs houses in American history.