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If you are a history buff and Portland, Maine is in your upcoming travel plans, keep reading this Blog.
There is an old saying in Marketing, “If you want to be successful, find a need and fill it.” A case in point may be what Captain Lemuel Moody, a retired sea captain, did. He was in Portland, Maine and noticed that ships often waited for days for dock space in Portland harbor. This was costly to ships. So, he came up with an idea. He saw a high spot above Casco Bay that was ideal for spotting ships miles before they reached Portland Harbor.
Moody raised 5,000 dollars in 1802 to use for the construction of an 86-foot wooden tower. They made it eight-sided so it would stand up to coastal winds. The tower had a spiral staircase with 103 steps leading to a viewing deck with a powerful telescope. The telescope was so powerful you could see ships up to 30 miles offshore.
Moody developed a unique flag system. Shipowners paid $5.00 a year for Moody to keep their flags. When Moody spotted their ships through his telescope, he would raise their unique flags. This gave the shipowners time to gather workers and prepare cargo before the ships arrived.
The Portland Observatory is still standing today and is available for tours. See the link (Source 3) below for additional information. Note: The Portland Observatory is not ADA accessible.
Sources:
- The forgotten story of Lemuel Moody, the man who turned Portland into a maritime powerhouse.
- Greater Portland Landmarks – The Portland Observatory
Travel Tips
If you are indeed headed to Portland, Maine, then check out these budget travel tips so you can save money on your trip.