As locals, we can sometimes overlook the stunning architectural history of Portland. Today may not be the best day for it, but take a quick walk around downtown and it’s hard not to run into one or two buildings that will make your jaw drop–if you’re paying attention.

Beside ever taller office blocks, sitting on the eastern edge of Portland’s downtown is our city’s fourth city hall. This grand building not only serves as the hub of civic activity, but it anchors a vital cluster of public institutions. The story of our city hall is one of rebirth and celebration, but also destruction.

The current city hall, completed in 1912, is actually the fourth. It replaced the previous structure that was consumed by fire in 1908, a fate that seems all too common in its lineage. Historically, Portland’s city halls have been vulnerable to fire, with the first significant fire in 1866 destroying an earlier version. These events have shaped the city’s architectural landscape, imbuing it with a sense of phoenix-like regeneration. (Resurgam, or “I will rise again” is the city’s slogan.)

Designed by the illustrious New York firm Carrère & Hastings, with local insights provided by Maine’s own John Calvin Stevens and his son John Howard Stevens, the building is a masterpiece of the Beaux-Arts style, inspired by the iconic New York City Hall. John M. Carrère, of the design firm, considered this Portland project to be one of his finest works, a statement that resonates through the building’s majestic presence.

Notably, the City Hall is not just an administrative center. It houses Merrill Auditorium, a 1,908-seat venue that is a cultural heartbeat for the city. Added along Myrtle Street, this wing of the building also contains the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ. This historic organ, one of the largest in the world at the time of its construction in 1912, represents another layer of the city’s rich cultural heritage.

The significance of Portland City Hall extends beyond its architectural and functional roles; it is a symbol of endurance and progress. After its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the building has continued to be a focal point for civic and cultural events, embodying the community’s ongoing dialogue between its past and its future.

Today, Portland City Hall remains a pivotal site where the city’s history, culture, and governance converge. Whether you are a resident attending a city council meeting, a visitor exploring its historical contours, or an attendee at one of the many concerts at Merrill Auditorium, the City Hall offers a unique glimpse into the soul of Portland. It stands not just as a structure of bricks and mortar, but as a living monument to the city’s indomitable spirit and communal pride.