Central Gloucester Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Central Gloucester Historic District
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Main Street looking west
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gloucester, Massachusetts |
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| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001881 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1982 |
The Central Gloucester Historic District is a special area in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule showing how this fishing town grew. You'll find old shops, government buildings, and homes from the 1800s here. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as a place with a lot of history!
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Exploring Gloucester's Historic Heart
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Massachusetts. English settlers first arrived here in 1623. By the 1800s, it became a very important fishing port. Fishing is still a big part of Gloucester's economy today.
The historic downtown is by the inner harbor. It's also near the Annisquam River. This river separates Cape Ann from the mainland. Big fires in 1831 and 1868 changed the area a lot. New buildings were built after these events. Modern changes in the 1900s also shaped the district.
What You'll Find in the District
The historic district has three main parts. Each part shows a different side of Gloucester's past.
- Main Street: This is the commercial heart. It's where shops and businesses were located. You can find it stretching from Washington Street to Pleasant Street.
- Dale Street: This area is the civic core. It's where important government buildings are. Dale Street runs next to Pleasant Street.
- Residential Areas: Close to the civic core are many homes. These houses are built close together. Middle Street, which is parallel to Main Street, has many beautiful old homes. Most of these were built before 1840. There are also many homes at the western end of Main and Middle Streets. These areas extend north to Pine Street.
Famous Buildings to See
The district has some really cool buildings. They tell stories of Gloucester's past.
- Gloucester City Hall: This amazing building was built in 1870. It has a fancy style called Second Empire. It was built after the big fire in 1868.
- Front Street Block: This is a group of four buildings joined together. You can find them at the western end of Main Street. They were built after the 1831 fire.
Gallery
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63 Middle Street
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Middle Street
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William Stevens, merchant, ca. 1749
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Middle Street
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Middle Street
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Middle Street
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Middle Street
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46 Middle Street
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Middle Street
