Virtual tour of Portland’s Longfellow Gardens reveals hidden gem

Whether you’re a local or a tourist, if you haven’t paid the Longfellow Gardens on Congress Street a visit, you’re missing out on one of Portland’s prettiest, most peaceful hidden gems.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his later years.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his later years.

Located right in the heart of downtown, the gardens sit behind the historic Wadsworth-Longfellow house which was the family home of Portland’s favorite son, poet and writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The garden is open (and free) to the public, but you’ll rarely find more than a handful of people in it at a time. Here is a 16 picture virtual tour to help you get a better idea of what you’re missing.

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If you find yourself on Congress Street near Monument Square, pop in to the gardens for a respite from the hustle and bustle of the inner city. Whether you stay for a few minutes or a few hours, you’ll be glad that you did.

Chris Shorr

About Chris Shorr

Chris is a sixth generation Portlander who loves all things Maine. He has worked with mentally ill and marginalized adults at a Portland non-profit, on a lobster boat in Casco Bay, at several high-end Portland restaurants, and at a local meat packing plant. He also ran for Portland City Council in 2013, wrote a weekly column in the now defunct Portland Daily Sun, and currently writes a weekly column in The Portland Phoenix.