Exchange Street is a main commercial

thoroughfare A thoroughfare is a primary passage or way of transport, whether by road on dry land or, by extension, via watercraft or aircraft. Originally, the word referred to a main road or open street which was frequented thoroughly. Different terms *Roa ...

in the Old Port of

Portland, Maine Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...

, United States. Originally laid out in 1724,''The Origins of the Street Names of the City of Portland, Maine as of 1995''
– Norm and Althea Green, Portland Public Library (1995) today it features a number of designer clothing stores, as well as several small, locally owned businesses, including Sherman's Maine Coast Books. It runs, one-way, for around , from Congress Street in the northwest to

Fore Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

in the southeast. Its main intersections are with (from northwest to southeast) Congress Street, Federal Street,

Middle Street 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 , from an intersection with Union Street, Spring Street and Temple Street ...

and Fore Street. The Merchant Exchange Building, which formerly stood in Post Office Park between Middle Street, Market Street and Exchange Street, was the home of Atlantic Bank. Completed in 1839, to designs by Boston architect Richard Bond, it was an attempt by local businessmen to return the state government to Portland from Augusta. After being used as a U.S. Custom House into the 1850s, it burned down in 1854. Two more federal buildings stood at the location between 1854 and 1965. Built 1866, the John Neal Block stands at 16 Exchange Street.

John Neal John Neal (August 25, 1793 – June 20, 1876) was an American writer, critic, editor, lecturer, and activist. Considered both eccentric and influential, he delivered speeches and published essays, novels, poems, and short stories between the 1 ...

first established his law practice on Exchange Street in 1827, located next door to the law office of

Samuel Fessenden Samuel Fessenden (July 16, 1784 – March 13, 1869) was an American attorney, abolitionist, and politician. He served in both houses of the Massachusetts state legislature before Maine became a separate state. He was elected as major general i ...

. Before the 1970s, Exchange Street and the Old Port area had become largely run-down and deserted.

Gentrification Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a neighborhood changes through the influx of more Wealth, affluent residents (the "gentry") and investment. There is no agreed-upon definition of gentrification. In public discourse, it has ...

began in the early 1970s and continues to this day. Historically, Exchange Street was where many printers (such as The Anthoensen Press) and newspapers were located. At the top of Exchange Street, strategically located across Congress Street from Portland City Hall, is the

Press Herald Building The Press Herald Building (also known as the Gannett Building) is a historic building in Portland, Maine, built in 1923 and expanded in 1948. It is strategically located across Congress Street from Portland City Hall. It was occupied by the '' ...

built in 1923 and expanded in 1948 as the headquarters of the ''

Portland Press Herald The ''Portland Press Herald'' (abbreviated as ''PPH''; Sunday edition ''Maine Sunday Telegram'') is a daily newspaper based in South Portland, Maine, with a statewide readership. The ''Press Herald'' mainly serves southern Maine and is focused ...

.'' In 2015, the renovated building became the Press Hotel. Exchange Street was known as Fish Street until around 1810. In 1837, Court Street, which ran between Federal Street and Congress Street, became part of Exchange Street.

Tommy's Park The Old Port (sometimes known as the Old Port Exchange) is a district of Portland, Maine, known for its cobblestone streets, 19th-century brick buildings and fishing piers. The district contains boutiques, restaurants and bars. Geography The Old ...

stands at the northwestern corner of Exchange Street's intersection with Middle Street, while Post Office Park is at the northeastern corner.

Notable buildings

* Printers' Exchange Block, intersection of Exchange Street and Federal Street * Merchants' National Bank, 34 Exchange Street – one of two surviving works of architect

Matthew Stead Matthew Stead (1840 – November 1882) was an English architect, active in the second half of the 19th century. Several of his designs are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. Early life Stead was born ...

References

{{Coord, 43, 39, 26, N, 70, 15, 16.4, W, display=title Streets in Portland, Maine Old Port of Portland, Maine