Maine Publicity Bureau Building, historic commercial building at 501 Danforth Street in Portland, Maine, United States
The Maine Publicity Bureau Building is a Colonial Revival structure completed in 1936 and located at 501 Danforth Street in Portland. It features a symmetrical brick facade, tall windows divided into small panes, a centered entrance with double doors under a pediment, and a wooden cupola rising from the roof.
The building was constructed in 1936 during the Great Depression using federal Works Progress Administration funding to serve as headquarters for the Maine Publicity Bureau founded in 1921. The bureau relocated to Hallowell in 1979, and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
The building served as the face of Maine's tourism promotion and shows how important travel and visitor economy was to the state in the early 20th century. Travelers could stop here to gather maps, brochures, and guides that introduced them to Maine's attractions.
The building sits on a slight rise along Danforth Street in western Portland, making it visible and easy to locate from the street. Access is convenient for pedestrians exploring the West End Historic District neighborhood.
The building was designed by architect John P. Thomas and originally included parking for hundreds of vehicles to welcome travelers arriving from the south on Route 1, showing how the state shaped infrastructure for automobile travel in the 1930s. This forward-thinking design reflects the era when the automobile was transforming how people visited Maine.
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