The Leighton House is located in Portland's West End, near the northern end of the Western Promenade, a public park. It is set overlooking the park on the east side, between West and Pine Streets. It is a 2+1⁄2-story brick building, with a dormered hip roof with bracketed eaves. The front facade is three bays wide, with an asymmetrical arrangement. The left bays are in a rectangular projection with single sash windows, and the right bays form a rounded projection with three window bays on each level. The entrance is at the center, sheltered by a portico supported by modified Doric columns. Corners are laid in brick that emulates quoining, and the windows have keystoned lintels.[3]
The house was built in 1902–03, to a design by local architect Frederick A. Tompson. Adam P. Leighton, for whom it was built, had made a fortune publishing "view books" (books containing lithographs), and then individual half-toned photographs, which were the first postcards. By the time this house was built, Leighton was a prominent local businessman, serving on bank boards and in elective offices. He was Portland's mayor for one term, 1908–09.[3]
