History & Culture   

One hundred and sixty years ago, Portland was struck by a disaster that would forever change the city’s landscape. The fire, considered the worst urban conflagration at the time, swept across the peninsula, leaving more than 10,000 people homeless and destroying 1,500 buildings. By the time the flames subsided, a third of the city was reduced to smoking ruins. On this walk, we’ll explore the Old Port, an area that was among the most severely affected by the Great Fire of 1866. We’ll hear firsthand accounts from individuals who lived through the devastation, and learn about the nationwide response and the swift rebuilding of the area making the Old Port one of the few intact historic Victorian waterfronts on the East Coast.

New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and movement.

Immediately after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. started throwing around ideas of how to confront Japan. From this brainstorming a team of brave flyers called the Doolittle Raiders was formed. From personal interviews with the co-pilot of plane #1, the students will hear what it was like to be a crew member on this mission.

New remote workshop. Format includes lecture.

Enjoy six narrated walks through Portland’s historic neighborhoods exploring the city’s history, architecture, and people since Europeans arrived. Discuss historic structures, immigrant populations, and locally and regionally famous architects and view their works. The longest walk will be two miles in two hours. The greatest elevation change will be between Congress Street and the waterfront. All walks will be on pavement, with optional side trips into two grassy cemeteries. Wheelchair accessible. Rain or shine. The instructor will contact students about the meeting place prior to each class.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes movement.

We will be looking at governments that rule through the use of terror: arbitrary imprisonment, random killings, and kidnapping. These governments cause widespread fear and a reluctance to speak-up or protest. We will look at the tactics and methods of how this type of government establishes its rule and maintains power.

New in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it revolutionized American travel and transportation, but its inspiration came from Europe’s earlier canal networks. In this course, we will trace the development of French, British, and Irish canals in the 17th and 18th centuries. We will follow the story into the 19th century as we turn to American canals, especially in New York and Pennsylvania. Along the way, we will explore how canals reflect the politics and aspirations of different nations and why they still matter for global shipping today. Whether we are drawn to engineering marvels, the people who built them, or the pleasure of drifting along a canal or hiking a towpath, we will deepen our appreciation of canals’ importance and beauty. 

This course introduces key aspects of Deaf Culture in the United States and the factors that define the Deaf community as a cultural minority. We will focus on awareness, cultural diversity, and the preservation of language. This course addresses the cultural identity, group norms, rules of social interaction, values, and traditions held by deaf members. Together we will explore the impact of modern technology, emerging issues, trends, and advocacy with the Deaf community. We will also address topics related to communication, terminology, educational alternatives, state and federal legislation, and community resources. 

In this course, we will explore how a tiny nation – Portugal – played an outsized role in world history. We will examine Portugal’s fifteenth and sixteenth century maritime expansion (once called the “Discoveries”), as well as its central role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. We will trace how Portugal, once a fringe region of the Roman Empire, emerged as the only independent kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula as Castile grew into Spain. We will follow Portugal’s rise as a global power, with outposts stretching from Brazil to Japan, and then its decline as rival empires overtook it – culminating in twentieth century poverty under Europe’s longest dictatorship. Finally, we will consider how this past continues to shape Portuguese identity and culture in the decades since a revolution ushered in democracy. As we survey Portugal’s landscapes, art and architecture, and food, we will see why record numbers of Americans are now visiting the country. 

Coffee will provide a lively lens on major past and present issues, including climate change, social life, health, global North–South differences, social and economic justice, tourism, and slavery. We will begin “from the ground up,” tracing coffee from planting and processing through shipping and, ultimately, the beverage in our cups - part of nearly two billion cups consumed daily worldwide. We will explore coffee’s global history and its shift from an elite drink to an everyday staple. Drawing on current research, we will examine coffee and health, as well as practical questions such as how more income might reach farmers and how coffee production might adapt to a changing climate. The instructor will share firsthand experiences from coffee farms around the world, discuss a range of brewing methods, and demonstrate how coffee is brewed. Sessions will be interactive, with time for questions throughout. 

In this course, we will gain a comprehensive introduction to Hindu traditions, emphasizing the importance of ritual, knowledge, and devotion across Hindu traditions from classical to contemporary times. We will introduce Hinduism’s South Asian roots, that can be traced to the Vedic tradition, which provides key conceptual and religious foundations. We will consider early and classical expressions of Hindu thought and religious life through the complex term dharma. Major Hindu deities are then introduced alongside associated narratives, practices, and iconography. We will examine the six major schools of Hindu philosophy using both secondary and primary sources. We will then consideration bhakti (devotion) that has characterized diverse Hindu traditions across centuries. Finally, we will consider sacred space and places including temples and tīrthas, as well as the interrelationship of the concept of divine presence and pilgrimage practices the relate to these holy sites. 

Explore 100 years of American history through objects often taken for granted in everyday life: signs. Led by the American Sign Museum (ASM) staff, this course introduces the Museum’s origins and features a conversation with ASM’s founder about why signs matter. We will examine how signs have evolved due to trends in commerce and technology. We will also explore case studies of three major food companies who used signage to shape their brands. In the final session, we will take a virtual visit to ASM’s neon shop to see how a neon sign is made.  

The Declaration of Independence is a pivotal American document, not just for eighteenth-century revolutionaries, but for people throughout US history. This course will explore how individuals in Washington, D.C. used the Declaration and its ideas after independence was won. From the capital city’s planners to Union soldiers who defended Washington amid civil war, many evoked the Declaration to support their causes and shape a capital city. Spotlighting museum artifacts from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, this course will cover D.C.’s early history through 1876, the nation’s first centennial celebration. 

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, this course will examine the indispensable founder, George Washington. We will explore Washington's life and political leadership as well as his work as a farmer, entrepreneur, and architect. We will also review the groundbreaking work of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA) which has owned and managed George Washington's Mount Vernon since 1858. In that year, an intrepid group of women (who had no right to vote or own property) came together to save George Washington's home, after both the Federal Government and Commonwealth of Virginiahad refused to help. MVLA formation marked the birth of the historic preservation movement. 

What makes an Oriental rug so captivating—its elegant design, intricate patterns, or the mystery of its origins? In this richly illustrated course, we will discover the stories woven into these remarkable textiles. We will travel through the history and artistry of rug and carpet weaving, a tradition rooted in Asia and North Africa, with examples dating back to the 4th century BCE. Using stunning visuals and expert insights, we will explore major carpet-making cultures and regions including Anatolia, Iran, Transcaucasia, North Africa, and Central Asia. We will learn to recognize defining features of Oriental rugs: weaving traditions (nomadic and settled), key historical periods (from the Early Modern era through the nineteenth-century), purposes (from prayer to decoration), and production contexts (from royal courts to bustling markets). We will also be introduced to basic methods for identifying weave structures and deepen our appreciation of these remarkable works of art. 

This course investigates the effect of Supreme Court decisions on our nation. Emphasis on how the court was established and how it has changed over the years. Emphasis on the current efforts of the Supreme Court and the effects of those decisions. Close explanation of efforts to reform the Supreme Court. 

Repeat in-person course with new content. Format includes lecture and discussion.

During the final stages of WWII, there were three battles that had to happen before the U.S. set foot on the main island of Japan. From interviews with the soldiers that fought there, the students will hear what it was like to step ashore and fight a dug-in enemy that had nothing to lose. 

Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture.

Explore how the Transcendentalists created an intellectual and cultural revolution. USM Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Adam delves into this extraordinary intellectual revolution in early- to mid-19th century Concord, Massachusetts. Dr. Tuchinsky will provide an introductory mini-lecture followed by class discussion in a comfortable setting of readings and videos, including segments of original writing and portions of recent histories. This course is specially crafted for OLLI and follows on the successful trip to Walden Pond and the Old Manse this spring (attendance on that trip is not required to participate in this class).

Transcendentalism was the New England branch of the Romantic movement. The Transcendentalists were radical individualists, a stance that would not have been possible without the political revolution of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.

This group of reformers connect directly to issues we face today, including: the importance of nature in our material and spiritual well-being; civil disobedience and its role in motivating cultural and political change; radical egalitarianism regardless of sex or caste; and the cultural tenor of American education as it relates to living in a contemporary society. By looking back, we will get a new perspective on life today.

Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House, was constructed between 1858 and 1860 as a summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife, Olive. Today the house is open to the public, preserved with over 90 percent of the original furnishings and a full complement of decorative wall paintings throughout the house. This workshop will offer an in-depth tour of this amazing residence, as well as a short walking tour in the Mansion neighborhood to discuss “what the Morses saw” during their time in Portland.

Repeat in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and movement.