To mark 100 years of the iconic Seth Thomas clock outside The Francis Hotel, we’re inviting you to help us create something timeless — a collection of 100 original photos or artworks celebrating the clock.

Submit your artwork or photography for a chance to win a free night’s stay at The Francis and have your piece displayed on our historic walls throughout the month of October. Whether it’s a photo you snapped the last time you were in town, a watercolor rendering of its charm, or a creative interpretation all your own, we want to see it. You can submit as many pieces as you’d like; each one counts as an entry into the drawing.

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A (Time) Piece of Portland History

Installed in 1925 by Hay & Peabody to commemorate their 25th anniversary, the clock outside The Francis was built by the famed Seth Thomas Clock Co. — the same company behind Grand Central Terminal’s iconic timepiece. Ours is one of just 80 street clocks ever produced, and one of only a few with both mechanical and electric mechanisms.

By 2017, the once-proud clock had rusted and tilted, eventually landing on Greater Portland Landmarks’ “Places in Peril” list. That’s when The Francis team stepped in. Partnering with our neighbors, historians, conservators, and craftspeople, we led a community-driven effort to restore it. In 2021, the fully restored clock returned to its pedestal — its deep green finish gleaming by day, its four glowing faces keeping Portland on time by night. Learn more about the full restoration process in The Portland Press Herald.