Maine Memory Network

The American House at the corner of Fore and Lime prided itself on offering travelers a convenient place to stay "in the business part of the city." While the American House's more modest furnishings paled in the face of its competitor and neighbor, the Cumberland House, the hotel still presented "great inducements for travelers."

As the city grew, more travelers began arriving via different means of transportation. In 1818, the first passenger coach line from Portland to Boston opened and by 1832, twelve stagecoach lines ran through the city with five coaches arriving and departing daily. To capitalize on this constant stream of travelers, three hotels in particular, the American, Cumberland and the Elm went up near Portland City Hall where the stagecoaches stopped to let off and take on passengers. These three hotels mark the beginning of the lively Portland hotel business and the growth of the city itself.