Cotuit Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cotuit Historic District
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1846 Union Meeting House
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Barnstable, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Federal |
| MPS | Barnstable MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000317 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1987 |
The Cotuit Historic District is a special area in the village of Cotuit. It's like a time capsule! This historic district is part of Barnstable, Massachusetts. It stretches along Main Street, from Lowell Street in the north to Sea Street in the south. You'll also find parts of Ocean View Avenue and other nearby streets here.
Some of the oldest buildings in this district were built in the late 1700s. For example, the Samuel Dottridge House, built around 1790, is now a museum! The area grew a lot in the mid-1800s. This was when Cotuit was a busy place for ships and sea travel. Later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became a popular spot for summer vacations. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Discovering Cotuit's Past
Cotuit is located in the southwestern part of Barnstable. It sits on a piece of land surrounded by water. The Santuit River is to the west, and Cotuit Bay is to the east. The main part of Cotuit village is on the northeastern side of this land. It spreads out along Main Street.
This district includes about 125 buildings. Most of these are homes. They were built between about 1850 and 1920.
How Cotuit Grew
Cotuit was first settled in the late 1700s. Back then, it was mostly a farming area. It didn't become important for sea travel until the 1800s. Many towns on the south coast of Cape Cod became busy with maritime activities. Cotuit was one of them!
By the mid-1800s, many sea captains and shipping businesses called Cotuit home. This led to the building of many beautiful houses along Main Street. These homes often show off styles like Greek Revival and Italianate architecture.
Summer Homes and Unique Buildings
In the late 1800s, people started building summer homes in Cotuit. These homes were often built near the older houses. Many of them are in the Queen Anne style. You can also find some Colonial Revival houses in the district.
The Cotuit Library is another important building. It was built around 1910 on Main Street. It's the only major Classical Revival style building in the district.
