About Blind Tiger Portland

The building at Carleton Street was constructed in 1869, just three years after the Great Fire leveled much of Portland and left the city determined to rebuild in grander fashion. The West End, largely spared from the flames, became the neighborhood of choice for Portland's merchant class. The four-story brick townhouse that rose here reflected that ambition: granite entry stairs, eleven-foot ceilings, and an entryway adorned with trompe l'oeil paintings by Portland artist Charles Schumacher that survive to this day, still fooling the eye after 150 years. The house passed through many hands over the decades, its brick facade and original woodwork faithfully maintained by those who understood what they had. 

Leading up to national Prohibition, Maine was the first state to pass laws that banned the sale of alcohol. But illicit establishments (including a private club housed in our own building’s cellar) continued to offer places for people to gather over a drink. A “blind tiger” was, in that era, common slang for an illegal spot where you could find a stiff drink. Today, Blind Tiger honors this spirit with a unique take on the urban guesthouse and plenty of space to gather and celebrate in your own way.