National Register of Historic Places

Leighton, Adam P., House

Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Listed
September 28, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82000746

About this property

The Adam P. Leighton House is an historic house at 261 Western Promenade in Portland, Maine. Built in 1903, it is a fine local example of Colonial Revival architecture, and is further prominent as home to Adam P. Leighton, who was "considered the father of the American postcard industry", and served as the Mayor of Portland from 1908 to 1909. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Leighton House is located in Portland's West End, near the northern end of the Western Promenade, a public park. It is set overlooking the park on the east side, between West and Pine Streets. It is a 2+1⁄2-story brick building, with a dormered hip roof with bracketed eaves. The front facade is three bays wide, with an asymmetrical arrangement. The left bays are in a rectangular projection with single sash windows, and the right bays form a rounded projection with three window bays on each level. The entrance is at the center, sheltered by a portico supported by modified Doric columns. Corners are laid in brick that emulates quoining, and the windows have keystoned lintels. The house was built in 1902–03, to a design by local architect Frederick A. Tompson. Adam P. Leighton, for whom it was built, had made a fortune publishing "view books" (books containing lithographs), and then individual half-toned photographs, which were the first postcards. By the time this house was built, Leighton was a prominent local businessman, serving on bank boards and in elective offices. He was Portland's mayor for one term, 1908–09. National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine

Location

261 Western Promenade
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
43.65111, -70.27570

Categories

COMMERCEPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Leighton, Adam P., House

This page lists Leighton, Adam P., House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Leighton, Adam P., House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Western Promenade
Listed
0.2 mi
Maine Central Railroad General Office Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Western Promenade Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary
Industrial
0.2 mi
Stevens, John Calvin, House
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Raid on Falmouth (Casco, Maine) 1690
1690Colonial
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Leighton, Adam P., House listed on the National Register?

Leighton, Adam P., House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Leighton, Adam P., House?

Leighton, Adam P., House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Leighton, Adam P., House?

The period of significance for Leighton, Adam P., House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Leighton, Adam P., House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Leighton, Adam P., House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Cumberland County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Cumberland County.

Explore CumberlandCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Leighton, Adam P., House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report