Victoria Mansion

The Victoria Mansion is one of the oldest single family homes in the city of Portland. However, that’s only a fraction of the reason why it’s still being preserved today. Finished in 1860, it shows off some of the finest exterior brownstone features of the day as well as a truly unique interior design. The home first belonged to Ruggles Sylvester Morse. He used to own many hotels in Boston, New York, and New Orleans and decided to hire Henry Austin, an architect from New Haven, CT to build him a home for his family. This is where he lived out the rest of his days until he died in 1893. 

It’s asymmetric design was unique for the time, but what’s most impressive are the walls on the inside. When you first walk in you’ll notice paintings, portraits, molding on the ceiling and walls, as well as a floor design. However, when you look closer you realize that’s not what they are at all. The whole interior is one magnificent lifelike fresco. This is what the organization is working so hard to refurbish and preserve inside the house.

The mansion is known to be one of the most preserved works of architecture in the United States. The home was scheduled to be torn down when New York educator, Dr. Williams Holmes, heard the story of the property and purchased it in 1940. Since then over 90% of what was in the home is there today, from furniture to decor. Although a good amount of furniture was sold after Morse’s death, Dr. Holmes and the preservation committee were able to track almost everything down and through the generosity of the furniture owners, were able to start putting the house back together. 

Victoria Mansion was finally named a national historic landmark by Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith in 1971, which then qualified it to receive federal funding for restoration. This is when most of the projects started to be documented and when we see the building really start to take shape. Although it has been over 50 years since the proclamation, because of its extremely complicated interior, it is still being restored today. However, people are still welcome to visit and take a tour of this wonderful piece of architectural artwork as a fair amount of the building is finished. Find more information about the Victoria Mansion here and pay them a visit next time you’re in Portland!