Do you want to know something wicked cool?
Located at 48 Union Wharf in Portland, ME, Get Maine Lobster is on the oldest wharf in Maine! In fact, Union Wharf has been a mainstay here in Portland for 230 years, symbolizing Maine’s rich history with a marine and aquaculture economy.
Portland, Maine's Union Wharf was founded in 1793 by a group of 25 sea captains and merchants who called themselves the "Proprietors of Union Wharf".
Built on a breastworks at the foot of Union Street and unlike anything else in the harbor at the time, Union Wharf was constructed using over 3,500 tons of lumber, with a 110-foot wide structure supported by massive oak pilings covered with wooden planks.
Ten or so businesses promptly set up shop on the wharf, and it quickly became a bustling hub of maritime activity. Other wharves were soon built in the area, and by 1806, Portland had emerged as the sixth largest seaport in the United States.
Over the years, Union Wharf continued to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of the community.
During the mid-1800s, it became a major port of call for steamships and other commercial vessels, and was home to a variety of businesses including shipping agents, chandlers, and marine supply stores, as well as a bustling fish market.
During World War II, Union Wharf played a critical role in the war effort as a base for the U.S. Navy. In the years following the war, it once again became a center of maritime commerce, serving as a hub for lobster fishing and other seafood-related businesses.
Today, Union Wharf remains an essential part of Portland's working waterfront, a testament to the city's proud maritime heritage.