Monument Square in Portland

A road used to run through this portion until the 70's.

     The next place I went to was Monument Square in Portland. They recently set up the city Christmas/Holiday tree and I went down at night to look at it light up. Every year the city takes a big tree and sets it up in the square. When I went down it was only about 9 at night, but there were few people around, and most of the businesses were closed.
     In addition to the main tree, the city had put lights up on the smaller trees in the area. I seem to remember that the city usually puts lighted balls on the buildings too, though they might have not yet, or maybe I'm thinking of another part of the city. The area is well kept up. However, most of the people passing through seemed a little crazy, but that is generally the nature of Congress Street.
     The monument of Monument Square is a statue dedicated to "Her sons who died for the union." It is officially known as the Soldiers and Sailors monument, and was dedicated in 1891, and is meant to memorialize those who died in the Civil War. The statue is still in great condition, and is one of the more famous Portland landmarks.

The Historical Significance of Monument Square

Square ca. 1950's, showing the old road. From Maine Memory.

 

     In addition to the significance of the Civil War monument, Monument Square has been significant to the city as something of a town center. The square is located right in the middle of the down town, and is surrounded by many of Portland's well known buildings. Surrounding it are One City Center, a large office building, the Portland Public (recently renovated), and the famous time and temperature building. The time and temperature building is an image that is synonymous with Portland, as it can be seen from just about anywhere that has a view of the city. It is so named because of the large digital sign on top that goes between listing the time of day and the temperature.
     Monument Square is also a meeting place in the city. There have been many protests there, for the war, economy, religious salvation, and recently it is where the Portland wing of the Occupy movement started off. Though the city eventually compromised with them, letting them instead stay down the road at Lincoln Park. Regardless of the politics of the group, Monument Square has been a meeting place and town center for it's part of Portland for years, and will likely continue.