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"The Portland Museum is an educational resource that exists to collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret and enhance the culture and heritage of Portland."
 

 
 

Portland Wharf Park Special Events

OVER THE FLOODWALL, BACK IN TIME
Wednesday, September 26th

Kentucky State Historic Preservation Officer Donna Neary, Kentucky Heritage Council staff, Louisville Metro officials and local and regional citizens gathered at Portland Branch Library to celebrate the listing of eight sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Jerry Brown, Deputy Director of Resource Division at Metro Parks accept the certificate for Portland Wharf Park. Important players in the creation and support of Portland Wharf Park shared the honor including former Mayor Dave Armstrong, Metro Councilperson Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Portland Museum Director Nathalie Andrews, Kentucky Archaeological Survey's Jay Stottman, Metro Historic Preservation Officer Richard Jett and Shawnee High School Career Counselor Ray Hurley along with six students.

Following the National Register event, Portland Museum kicked off Linking Our Heritage to Our Future, a new project funded by a $150,000 Preserve America grant (a White House initiative) which is being used to create a master plan for interpreting Portland Wharf Park and linking it with key neighborhood historic sites along three heritage trails. Trolleys brought visitors from the library, over the flood wall and into the park. Jay Stottman and other archaeologists led a public dig where visitors were able to see the foundation of an old house and help sift through dirt for artifacts. Shawnee High School students talked to visitors about key sites in the park.
Newly listed sites on the National Register of Historic Places
Jefferson County
Portland Proper, Louisville – An archaeological site along the Ohio River including Portland Wharf Park and a large part of the area known as Portland Proper, the original town of Portland.  The site now consists of the archaeological remains of a once-thriving river town and port – occupied from the 1820s through 1930s – demolished when the floodwall was built.

Mockingbird Valley Historic District – A residential neighborhood five miles east of downtown Louisville consisting of approximately 450 acres bounded by I-71 to the north and Brownsboro Road to the south.  The district has 179 contributing structures including houses, outbuildings, a cemetery and private club dating from 1905 through the 1950s in various architectural styles.

Martin Bannon House, 5112 Bannon Crossing – An American Arts and Crafts / Craftsman-style brick home with a glazed brick façade and terra cotta tile roof.  The rectangular, 2∏-story brick building originally sat on 18.11 acres with landscaped gardens, a pool and carriage house.

The Olympic Apartments, 223 W. Breckinridge Street, Louisville – A mixed-use commercial/residential complex constructed in 1926-27 in the Commercial Craftsman style.

Bourbon County
West Millersburg Rural Historic District – Consisting of small to mid-size farms located primarily along Millersburg-Ruddles Mill Road in eastern Bourbon County.  The district encompasses 2,028 acres including 61 contributing buildings and 19 contributing structures, most dating from the mid-19th century to pre-WWII.

Franklin County
Weehawken (also known as the Trabue-Hoge House) – A 3.35-acre site consisting of a main house, garage, three 20th century outbuildings (a dairy, horse barn and smokehouse) and a dry-laid stone fence.  The property was originally part of a 1,000-acre Revolutionary War land grant to John Major, Sr., dating from 1783.

Oldham County
Wooldridge-Rose House, 315 Wooldridge Avenue, Pewee Valley – A large, two-story, Colonial Revival-style home dating to 1905, constructed with a limestone block foundation, shingle and tin roof and weatherboard siding.

Woodford County
Cleveland House, 140 Park Street, Versailles – Site of an orphanage originally incorporated as the Cleveland Orphan Home in 1869, which continued in operation through the 1950s.  The current home is a 2∏-story Dutch Colonial building erected in 1926 on the main foundation of its predecessor, a brick, Classic Revival-style structure dating to 1875.

Kentucky has the fourth highest number of National Register listings in the nation, with more than 3,200 districts, sites and structures encompassing more than 41,000 historic features.  Administered by the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Offices, the National Register program is the official list of the nation’s sites deemed worthy of preservation, recognizing a property's archaeological, architectural or historical significance and providing a measure of protection against adverse impacts from federally funded projects.  National Register listing or eligibility is also the first step in qualifying for federal and state tax credits for rehabilitation of historic buildings.
 

Saturday May 19th, 2007, 9:00am—1pm
ALL HANDS ON DECK: PORTLAND WHARF PARK CLEANUP DAY

Sponsored by Metro Parks and Portland Museum

Join neighborhood residents and volunteers in the effort to cleanup the park.  Expect a fun filled morning of light work picking up debris and making our park shine.  Snacks, water, gloves, and bags are provided to participants.  We urge you to come on over and make this morning complete – sometimes it takes all hands on deck.  See you there! Contact Benjamin Baggett or Mary Turner at Portland Museum for more details, 502-776-7678

Directions:
Group will meet at Portland Wharf Park parking area at the intersection of Montgomery St. and 33rd Street – the entrance to Sadler’s Auto Salvage.  Participants under 18 require signature from parent or legal guardian and may sign on the day of the event.

Project funding provided by Louisville Metro Parks and Preserve America, a White House initiative, in cooperation with US Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and partnership with US Department of the Interior.  
 
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site designed by Bryce Hudson
Color illustrations by Annette Cable.