Middle Street

Middle Street

An 1863 view of the now-pedestrianized section of Middle Street between today's Monument Square and Free Street
Length	0.46 mi (0.74 km)
Location	Portland, Maine, U.S.
Northeast end	Hancock Street
Southwest end	Union Street, Spring Street and Temple Street

The former section end of Middle Street which led to and from Monument Square, pictured from Monument Way. It is now pedestrianized

Middle Street is a downtown street in Portland, Maine, United States. Dating to 1724 (although part of it was a path established by ancient settlers), it runs for around 0.46 miles (0.74 km), from an intersection with Union Street, Spring Street and Temple Street in the southwest, to Hancock Street, at the foot of Munjoy Hill, in the northeast. It formerly originated at what was then known as Market Square (today's Monument Square), but 20th-century redevelopment saw the section between Monument Square and Free Street pedestrianized, and the remaining section—around The Maine Lobsterman monument—erased.

Near its midsection, Middle Street crosses Franklin Street. In 1756, when Franklin Street was laid out between Middle Street and Back Street (today's Congress Street), it was known as Fiddle Street.

Middle Street, which is named for its position between Congress Street and Fore Street, passes through Portland's Old Port district.

Notable addresses

From northeast to southwest:

• Abraham S. Levy Building, 78–88 Middle Street
• Portland Police Headquarters, 109 Middle Street
• Thompson Block, 117–125 Middle Street (listed on the National Register of Historic Places)
• Rackleff Building, 129–131 Middle Street (listed on the National Register of Historic Places)
• Woodman Building, 133–141 Middle Street (listed on the National Register of Historic Places)
• Post Office Park, Middle Street between Market Street and Exchange Street
• Tommy's Park, Middle Street and Exchange Street
• Canal Bank Building, 188 Middle Street
• The Maine Lobsterman statue, Middle Street and Temple Street

Demolished buildings

The Samuel Freeman House, built in the late 18th century, formerly stood on Middle Street.

The former Falmouth Hotel

The 200-room, six-story Falmouth Hotel stood at 212 Middle Street between 1868 and 1963, when it was torn down for being a fire hazard. It was replaced by today's Canal Bank Plaza.

Sanitary Meat Market (established in 1914) formerly occupied the southern corner of the Middle Street and India Street intersection. It is now a parking lot.