The Neal Dow Memorial, designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Government, is a late Federal-style mansion built in 1829, on the occasion of Neal Dow’s marriage to Maria Maynard.  The initial cost of the house and land was under $6000.  Soon the house became a center of political and humanitarian activity.  It was here that Neal Dow and his partisans set out to educate and persuade the populace on the benefits of prohibition.

“Federal” style connotes a period in American history when our Federal government was being developed and honed.  Despite the long fight for independence, Americans were still highly influenced by Robert Adam (1728-1792), Great Britain’s most popular architect.    



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The building’s foundation is stone and concrete.  Its exterior is a brick 2 ½ storied, stepped gable with a recessed front door, later portico.  The double doors are Victorian.  The exterior was renovated in the early 1970s.  Ornamental ironwork, designed for the house and library wing, is considered to be the oldest original fencing still being used in Portland.

 The interior flooring is part wood beam and plank surfaced with hard wood.   Each room has been left in the manner Col. Fred Dow prescribed, having stayed the same as when General Dow lived there.  The interior rooms contain furnishings of varied periods, original to the house.   These include: portraits and other fine paintings, specially designed presentation silver, testimonial manuscripts, a large set of china bearing Neal Dow’s portrait, given by British temperance colleagues to Mrs. Dow, and memorabilia of his military and political career.

Neal Dow’s library was a great part of His life.  He was an avid reader and writer who enjoyed literature on a vast array of topics.  His library is still intact today.