I used to work across the street from the Longfellow House. The garden was a popular place to go have lunch. It's a lovely little find in the middle of the most concreted part of Portland. (I personally haven't been in a couple years, now that I work on the edge of town, so I'll make no comment about the way it currently looks.)

I'm not entirely sure I think it's worth a two hour drive, as it's really not that big. But you'd definitely have plenty of time to do something else around town, so why not?

Hello Ginny;
Sorry I have not responded sooner and I do not know if you made the trip but... I worked in the Garden two years ago as a volunteer very briefly. It has many beautiful old plants but it has been neglected and needs to be cleaned out. The Historical Society Garden Club was responsible for it and the average age of the group was about 70 (I am being kind). Things may have changed since then but I also know that it is late in the season for the garden since it is out of doors. I may try to contact them again about helping in the spring and if I do I can let you know. E-mail me if you are stil interested. Have a great day.

Thank you for the replies! I did not get up there this year but the Longfellow garden is definitely on my list. That garden used to have its own garden club and be very active. I have one of their program books from the 1920s. The Longfellow house on Brattle St. in Cambridge MA has completely redone its garden and it is wonderful. Hope the one in Portland can be revived. All that new money and energy in Portland ought to get busy over there.

One of the fun factoids I learned in a biography of Longfellow is that his sister, who owned the Portland house thru much of the 1800s and into the 20c, had the last license to own/operate an outhouse in the city of Portland. No newfangled gadgets like flushing toilets for her!