| Fish Street (formerly) | |
 The foot of Exchange Street, viewed fromFore Street in 2024 | |
 Interactive map of Exchange Street | |
| Length | 0.24 mi (0.39 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Portland, Maine, U.S. |
| Northwest end | Congress Street |
| Southeast end | Fore Street |
Exchange Street is a main commercialthoroughfare in theOld Port ofPortland, Maine, United States. Originally laid out in 1724,[1] today it features a number of designer clothing stores, as well as several small, locally owned businesses,[2] includingSherman's Maine Coast Books. It runs,one-way, for around 0.24 miles (0.39 km), fromCongress Street in the northwest toFore Street in the southeast. Its main intersections are with (from northwest to southeast) Congress Street,Federal Street,Middle Street and Fore Street.
The Merchant Exchange Building, which formerly stood in Post Office Park between Middle Street, Market Street and Exchange Street,[3] was the home of Atlantic Bank.[1] Completed in 1839, to designs by Boston architectRichard Bond, it was an attempt by local businessmen to return the state government to Portland fromAugusta. 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.[4]
Built 1866, the John Neal Block stands at 16 Exchange Street.[5]John Neal first established his law practice on Exchange Street in 1827,[6] located next door to the law office ofSamuel Fessenden.[7]
Before the 1970s, Exchange Street and the Old Port area had become largely run-down and deserted.Gentrification began in the early 1970s and continues to this day.
Historically, Exchange Street was where many printers (such asThe Anthoensen Press) and newspapers were located. At the top of Exchange Street, strategically located across Congress Street fromPortland City Hall, is thePress Herald Building built in 1923 and expanded in 1948 as the headquarters of thePortland Press Herald. In 2015, the renovated building became the Press Hotel.[8]
Exchange Street was known as Fish Street until around 1810. In 1837, Court Street, which ran betweenFederal Street and Congress Street, became part of Exchange Street.[1]
Tommy's Park stands at the northwestern corner of Exchange Street's intersection with Middle Street, whilePost Office Park is at the northeastern corner.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)43°39′26″N70°15′16.4″W / 43.65722°N 70.254556°W /43.65722; -70.254556
