Encompassing a portion of the city's Arts District and an eastern portion of its West End, the district has a significant concentration of residential and commercial buildings that survived the city's devastating 1866 fire.

Prominent buildings from the early 19th century include the Charles Q. Clapp House, the McLellan-Sweat Mansion (later incorporated into the Portland Museum of Art), and the 1833 Park Street Church.

Also located in the district are the former fire station housing the Portland Fire Museum, the home of John Neal, the home of Prentiss Mellen later converted into a monastery, and an 1805 mansion designed by Alexander Parris later converted to the Portland Club.

Commercial buildings in the district include the flatiron Charles Q. Clapp Block.

[2] In 1988, 7 protesters, include State Representative James V. Oliver, were arrested while trying to block the demolition of an 1857 building on Park Street.