Capitol Complex Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Capitol Complex Historic District
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | State and Capitol Sts., Augusta, Maine |
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| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Built | 1827 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001417 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 2001 |
The Capitol Complex Historic District is a special area in Augusta, Maine. It holds many important old buildings where the state of Maine is run. This district includes the Maine State House, which is like Maine's parliament building. It also has Capitol Park, a beautiful green space. You'll find The Blaine House here too, which is where Maine's governor lives. Other buildings like the Burton Cross Office Building and some old 1800s houses are part of this historic area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, meaning it's a very important historical site.
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Exploring Maine's Capitol Complex
Maine's main government buildings are in Augusta, the state capital. They are just south of the downtown area. The main road to get there is State Street (United States Route 201).
The Maine State House
On the west side of State Street, you'll see the impressive Maine State House. This building is where Maine's laws are made. Its main design was created by a famous architect named Charles Bulfinch.
Capitol Park
Across State Street from the State House is Capitol Park. This park is about 20-acre (8.1 ha) big. It was part of the land given to the state for the capitol buildings. The park's design was created by the Olmsted Brothers. They were a well-known landscape architecture firm.
The Blaine House
North of the State House, across Capitol Street, is The Blaine House. This house is a very important historical site. It is now the official home of the Governor of Maine. The house was built in 1833. It was made larger in the 1860s and 1870s by James G. Blaine. He was a famous politician from Maine.
The Blaine House was given to the state in 1919. It was then redesigned to be the governor's residence. This redesign was done by John Calvin Stevens. The grounds around the house were also landscaped by the Olmsted Brothers.
Other Historic Buildings
Near The Blaine House, there are three other historic homes. The state bought these houses in the 1900s. They help protect the area around the governor's mansion. Two of these homes were built in the 1830s. They show the Greek Revival style of architecture. The third house, built in 1911, is the Guy P. Gannett House. It's a rare example of Mediterranean Revival architecture in Kennebec County.
Behind the Burton Cross Office Building, across Sewall Street, is the Nash School. This building was built in 1897. It shows the Romanesque Revival style. The state bought it in 1976.
