It was built in 1829 for noted politician and prohibitionist Neal Dow (1804-1897), and was later designated a National Historic Landmark for that association.

Dow's house was a center of activism in his lifetime, and is now the headquarters of the Maine chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

[3] Although the chapter went through a period of low activity, attempts were begun in 2013 to revive it after the state legalized the sale of marijuana.

[4] Neal Dow was born and raised in Portland to Quaker parents, and was an early advocate of temperance as well as a prominent local businessman.

Biographer Frank Byrne credits Dow for paving the way, in terms of his principles, strategy, and tactics, for later temperance advocates.