Portland: Spirit of the Eastern Seaboard Book

"PORTLAND IS A CITY OF HISTORIC CHARM AND NEW TECHNOLOGY, WITH A PROUD PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE. IT IS BIG ENOUGH TO OFFER ITS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALL THAT THE LARGEST CITIES PROVIDE, YET SMALL ENOUGH TO PERMIT CLOSE AND PERSONAL CONNECTIONS."

So begins U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell's introductory essay to Portland: Spirit of the Eastern Seaboard. Tracing the city's long and colorful history and underlying emphasis on community, Mitchell paints a heartfelt portrait of a place where old and new merge seamlessly.

Evidence of Portland's growth from a city with a sea-based economy to today's dynamic commercial center is everywhere: in its ever increasing technological status; in the cultural diversity of its population; and in its scenic and lucrative waterfront, thriving arts scene, and ongoing downtown revitalization. But, Mitchell adds, "Portland's rebirth isn't just about bricks and mortar…Even as fish is sold over the Internet, Portland's working waterfront remains, in some ways, the same as it was 100 years ago. Lobstermen still head out to check their traps before dawn each morning."

Aided by hundreds of beautiful images culled from the area's finest photographers, Mitchell invites us to experience the spirit of the city on the eastern seaboard, to learn why "Portland is widely regarded as one of the best places in America to live."