Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Boston Public Library

Description

Baxter Boulevard is a road and parkway that wraps around Portland's Back Cove. Before Tukey's Bridge was built, now I-295, it served as the main thoroughfare for traffic heading north from downtown Portland. The road was part of US Route 1 until May 2007.

The parkway and roadway began as an initiative of Mayor James Phinney Baxter, for whom it is named. It was envisioned as one of four parks in the city (along with Deering Oaks, Western Promenade and Eastern Promenade) which would encircle the city. Property owners donated the land next to the cove and the walking and biking path were filled in. Originally called the Back Cove Boulevard, the parkway opened in 1917. It covers 30 acres and the pathway is 2.25 miles in length.

Tree planting began on the Boulevard in 1921 as a memorial to World War I victims. In 1989 Baxter Boulevard was named to the National Register of Historical Places.

The caption reads, "Baxter Boulevard (Route 1), Portland, Maine." This postcard was made by the Tichnor Brothers printing company as part of the Maine vacation series printed from 1930-1045, which endeavored to bolster tourism in Maine.

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About This Item

• Title: Baxter Boulevard, Portland, ca. 1938
• Creator: Tichnor Bros., Inc.
• Creation Date: circa 1938
• Subject Date: circa 1938
• Location: Portland, Cumberland County, ME
• Media: Linen texture postcard
• Dimensions: 9 cm x 14 cm
• Collection: The Tichnor Brothers Collection
• Object Type: Text and Image

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Baxter Boulevard (Portland, Me.)
• Roads--Maine--Portland
• Postcards--Maine

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For more information about this item, contact:

Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 859-2039
Website

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