Portland's development in the era from 1890 to 1950 is characterized by a 1911 statement that "as a bustling commercial center, an attractive place of residence, and a beautiful summer resort, Portland looms big." The city's leadership role as a major publishing nexus for early-20th-century American postcards accounts for the quality and quantity of the period images produced by firms such as Chisholm, Leighton, and Morris. Featuring many never-before-published views from the extensive collection of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Portland offers a treasured visual reminder of a time when the city prospered as a major transatlantic port and played host to 250,000 tourists annually.