Hexagon Barn facts for kids
The Hexagon Barn in Newport, Maine is a very special building. It's thought to be the only barn of its kind in the entire state of Maine because of its unique six-sided shape! This old barn is connected to a house built around 1850, and the barn itself is believed to be just as old. Because it's so unique and historic, the Hexagon Barn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Quick facts for kids |
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Hexagon Barn
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Spring and Railroad Sts., Newport, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000412 |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1980 |
Contents
What Makes the Hexagon Barn Special?
The Hexagon Barn stands out because of its unusual shape. Most barns are rectangular, but this one has six sides! It's located in the village of Newport, right at the corner of Spring and Railroad Streets.
A Look at Its Design
The barn is a two-story building made of wood. It has a special hexagonal roof that matches its six sides. On top of the roof, there's a small, six-sided tower called a cupola. This cupola has small openings, or louvers, to let air circulate. The outside of the barn is covered with traditional clapboard siding.
Each of the barn's six sides is about the same length. It has a few windows, including one on the second floor on the southwest side and another on the northeast side. There are also four doors. Two doors are on the eastern side, and two are on the northern side. One of the ground-floor doors on the north side was once a regular hinged door but has since been changed to a modern garage door.
The Barn's History
We don't know exactly when the Hexagon Barn was built or who built it. However, experts believe it was constructed around the same time as the house it's attached to, which dates back to about 1850. The house itself is a Cape style home with simple Greek Revival features.
A One-of-a-Kind Building
Before the barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, people looked all over Maine. They wanted to see if there were any other six-sided barns in the state. They couldn't find any! This makes the Hexagon Barn truly unique and a special part of Maine's history.
