Main Street Historic District (Rockland, Maine) facts for kids
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Main Street Historic District
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. from Limerock to Winter Sts., Rockland, Maine |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000182 (original) 11000991 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1978 |
| Boundary increase | January 4, 2012 |
The Main Street Historic District is the old commercial center of Rockland, Maine. It is located on several blocks of Main Street, which is also United States Route 1. This district has many well-preserved buildings. They show the style of architecture from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
This time was important for Rockland. It was a busy center for building ships and processing lime. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It was made larger in 2012 to include more historic buildings.
Contents
Exploring Rockland's History
How Rockland Began
The area we now call Rockland was first settled in the late 1700s. It was part of a nearby town called Thomaston. Rockland's harbor was a great spot for building ships. The land also had lots of limestone. This led to a big industry of burning lime. Kilns, which are special ovens, were built along the shore.
Becoming a City
The area officially became a town called East Thomaston in 1848. A few years later, in 1854, it became the city of Rockland. Sadly, many buildings in the downtown area were destroyed by fires in 1853. After the fires, the city rebuilt its downtown. Many new buildings were made of brick in the Italianate style.
What Makes the District Special
The Main Street Historic District was first recognized in 1978. It covered parts of Main Street between Winter Street and the parking lot near Tillson Avenue. It also included the area from Museum Street to Limerock Street. In 2012, the district was made bigger. It now reaches Lindsey Street on the west side and Summer Street on the east side.
Some important buildings are found here. The Security Trust Building was built in 1912. It shows the Colonial Revival style. A famous architect from Boston, R. Clipstone Sturgis, designed it. Another key building is the 1854 Farnsworth Homestead. This building is now a main part of the Farnsworth Art Museum.
