Victoria Mansion is an outstanding example of nineteenth-century American architecture and design. With remarkably intact original interiors and decorations, it survives as a unique example of the princely palaces created for America’s wealthiest citizens in the pre-Civil War era.

Also known as the Morse-Libby House, the Mansion was built between 1858 and 1860 for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife, Olive Ring Merrill Morse. A native of Maine, Morse made his fortune as the proprietor of luxury hotels in New Orleans during the 1850s. His experience as a hotelier shaped his taste in design, and when the time came to build a summer home, he sought out some of the nation’s leading designers.

Morse selected Henry Austin of New Haven as the architect. Victoria Mansion is considered not only his masterpiece, but also the finest surviving Italian villa style house in America. Composed in brownstone, the powerful, asymmetrical composition is organized around a soaring four-story tower, and features deep overhanging eaves, graceful verandahs, and ornately carved window surrounds.

The interiors are the creation of Gustave Herter, founder of the famous New York City design firm of Herter Brothers. Victoria Mansion is the earliest known Herter commission, and the only one that is still intact. Remarkably, more than 90% of the original contents of the house survive, including important furniture from the Herter workshops, elaborate wall paintings, artworks, carpets, gas lighting fixtures, stained glass, porcelain, silver, and glassware. The house was built with such modern technologies as central heating, gas lighting, hot and cold running water, and a servant’s call system – making it one of the most sophisticated private homes of the period.

The Morses had no children, and after Ruggles Morse died in 1893 his widow sold the house with its contents to Joseph Ralph Libby, founder of a prominent Portland department store. The Libby family occupied the house for over thirty years, carefully preserving the building and its contents. In 1928 the Libby children moved out of the house, leaving its future uncertain. The building was saved from demolition in 1940 by a retired educator, William H. Holmes, who recognized its importance and used his own funds to save it for posterity. In 1941 he opened the house as a museum named for Britain’s Queen Victoria, and in 1943 transferred ownership to the Victoria Society of Maine. Victoria Mansion has operated continuously as a museum for over sixty years, and today the organization remains committed to the preservation and interpretation of the Morse-Libby House.