National Register of Historic Places listings in Bridgeport, Connecticut facts for kids

Location of Bridgeport in Fairfield County, Connecticut

Welcome to Bridgeport, Connecticut! This city is home to many amazing places that are super old and important. These special spots are listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a hall of fame for buildings, parks, and other cool sites that tell a story about America's past.

In Fairfield County, where Bridgeport is located, there are 286 places on this list. Bridgeport itself has 55 of these historic treasures! This article will tell you about some of the most interesting ones right here in Bridgeport.

Exploring Bridgeport's Historic Places

Bridgeport is full of history, and many of its buildings and areas have been recognized as important. Let's take a look at some of these cool places!

Historic Buildings and Homes

Bridgeport has many buildings that show off different styles of architecture and tell stories of the people who lived and worked there.

The Barnum Museum

The Barnum Museum is a famous building located at 805 Main Street. It was built in 1893 and is named after the famous showman P.T. Barnum. This museum is a great place to learn about his life and the history of Bridgeport. It's a real landmark in the city!

The historic Barnum Museum.

Bridgeport City Hall

The old Bridgeport City Hall, also known as McLevy Hall, is at 202 State Street. This building has been a central part of Bridgeport's government and community for a long time. It was listed as historic in 1977.

Bridgeport City Hall, shown on a postcard from 1905.

Fairfield County Courthouse

The Fairfield County Courthouse at 172 Golden Hill Street is another important government building. It was built in 1888 and is a beautiful example of classic architecture. Many important legal decisions have been made within its walls.

The Fairfield County Courthouse in Bridgeport.

Historic Churches and Synagogues

Bridgeport is home to several historic places of worship. The First Baptist Church at 126 Washington Avenue was listed in 1990. The Bikur Cholim Synagogue (1545 Iranistan Avenue) and the Ein Jacob (Ayn Yacob) Synagogue (746 Connecticut Avenue) are also recognized for their historical importance to the community. The St. John's Episcopal Church at 768 Fairfield Avenue is another beautiful and historic church. The United Congregational Church at 877 Park Avenue is also a significant historic building.

The First Baptist Church in Bridgeport.

Bikur Cholim Synagogue.

Ein Jacob (Ayn Yacob) Synagogue.

St. John's Episcopal Church.

United Congregational Church.

Other Notable Buildings

• The Peyton Randolph Bishop House at 135 Washington Avenue is a historic home.
• The Hotel Beach at 140 Fairfield Avenue is a historic hotel building.
• The Palace and Majestic Theaters at 1315-1357 Main Street are old movie theaters that have seen many shows and performances.
• The Sterling Block-Bishop Arcade at 993-1005 Main Street is a historic commercial building.
• The United Illuminating Company Building at 1115-1119 Broad Street is a historic office building.
• The US Post Office-Bridgeport Main at 120 Middle Street is the city's main post office, a historic building where mail has been sorted for decades.
• The Maplewood School at 434 Maplewood Avenue is a historic school building.
• The Seaside Institute at 299 Lafayette Avenue was built in 1887. It was designed by Warren R. Briggs and originally used for the women who worked at the Warner Brothers corset factory.

Peyton Randolph Bishop House.

Hotel Beach.

Inside the Palace Theater.

Inside the Sterling Block-Bishop Arcade.

United Illuminating Company Building.

US Post Office-Bridgeport Main.

Maplewood School.

The Seaside Institute.

Historic Districts

Sometimes, it's not just one building that's historic, but a whole group of buildings or an entire neighborhood! These are called historic districts.

Downtown Historic Districts

Bridgeport has several historic districts right in its downtown area.

• The Bridgeport Downtown North Historic District includes streets like Congress, Water, and Fairfield Avenue.
• The Bridgeport Downtown South Historic District covers areas around Elm, Cannon, and Main Streets.
• The Golden Hill Historic District is another important area downtown.

A building in the Bridgeport Downtown South Historic District.

A building in the Golden Hill Historic District.

Black Rock Historic Districts

The Black Rock area of Bridgeport has a rich history.

• The Black Rock Gardens Historic District includes streets like Fairfield Street and Brewster Street.
• The Black Rock Historic District is roughly bounded by Black Rock Harbor and Grovers Avenue. It features many beautiful old houses.

A home in the Black Rock Gardens Historic District.

Queen Anne style houses in the Black Rock Historic District.

East Side and East End Historic Districts

These areas also have important historic neighborhoods.

• The Deacon's Point Historic District is near Seaview Avenue.
• The East Bridgeport Historic District is roughly bounded by the railroad tracks and Beach Street.
• The East Main Street Historic District includes parts of East Main Street.
• The Gateway Village Historic District is near Waterman Street and Connecticut Avenue.
• The Remington City Historic District and Remington Village Historic District are in the Boston Avenue - Mill Hill area.
• The Wilmot Apartments Historic District is at the junction of Connecticut and Wilmot Avenues.

A street in the Deacon's Point Historic District.

A building in the East Bridgeport Historic District.

A building in the East Main Street Historic District.

A building in the Gateway Village Historic District.

A street in the Remington City Historic District.

A building in the Remington Village Historic District.

Wilmot Apartments in a historic district.

South End Historic Districts

The South End of Bridgeport has several historic areas.

• The Barnum/Palliser Historic District is roughly bounded by Myrtle and Park Avenues.
• The William D. Bishop Cottage Development Historic District includes Cottage Place and Atlantic Street.
• The Marina Park Historic District includes Marina Park and Park Avenue.
• The Seaside Village Historic District is on the east side of Iranistan Avenue.

A building in the Barnum/Palliser Historic District.

Cottage Place in the William D. Bishop Cottage Development Historic District.

A view of the Marina Park Historic District.

Seaside Village, a historic district.

West End and West Side Historic Districts

These areas also have important historic neighborhoods.

• The Bassickville Historic District includes parts of Bassick and Howard Avenues.
• The Division Street Historic District is roughly bounded by State Street and Iranistan Avenue.
• The Railroad Avenue Industrial District is a cluster of old factory buildings.
• The Stratfield Historic District is near CT 59 and U.S. 1.

A street in the Bassickville Historic District.

A street in the Division Street Historic District.

A view of the Railroad Avenue Industrial District.

A church in the Stratfield Historic District.

Other Historic Districts

• The Lakeview Village Historic District is in North Bridgeport.
• The Sterling Hill Historic District is in The Hollow neighborhood.

A view of the Lakeview Village Historic District.

A street in the Sterling Hill Historic District.

Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Bridgeport has beautiful parks that are also considered historic.

Beardsley Park

Beardsley Park at 1875 Noble Avenue is a large, historic park in North Bridgeport. It's a great place for outdoor activities and has been enjoyed by families for many years.

A carousel at Beardsley Park.

Seaside Park

Seaside Park is a large park located along the Long Island Sound in the South End of Bridgeport. It offers beautiful views of the water and is a popular spot for recreation. It was listed as historic in 1982.

Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

Water Landmarks

Bridgeport's history is also tied to its waterways.

Historic Barges

Three barges sunk in Bridgeport Harbor are listed as historic: the BERKSHIRE NO. 7, the ELMER S. DAILEY, and the PRISCILLA DAILEY. These barges tell a story about the city's maritime past.

A view of the bridge from Bridgeport Harbor, where the barges are located.

The historic barges in Bridgeport Harbor.

Lighthouses

Lighthouses are important guides for ships, and Bridgeport has two historic ones.

• The Penfield Reef Light is located in the Long Island Sound off Shoal Point. It's a beautiful and important lighthouse.
• The Tongue Point Lighthouse is on the western side of Bridgeport Harbor.

Penfield Reef Lighthouse on an old postcard.

Tongue Point Lighthouse.

Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge

The Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge is a historic railroad bridge that crosses the Pequonnock River. It's an important part of the city's transportation history.

The Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge.

Other Unique Historic Sites

Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain

The Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain is a beautiful and artistic landmark located at Park and Fairfield Avenues. Built between 1912 and 1913, it features a bronze mermaid statue and granite watering troughs. This fountain was created by the famous American sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who also sculpted Mount Rushmore!

The Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain.

Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses

The Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses at 352-4 and 358-60 Main Street are very special. These houses belonged to free African American women in the 1800s and are important symbols of early African American history in Connecticut.

The Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses.

Cassidy House

The Cassidy House at 691 Ellsworth Street is an Italianate farmhouse built in 1849. It was owned by the Cassidy family for over 109 years and is still in great condition.

The Cassidy House.

David Perry House

The David Perry House at 531 Lafayette Street is another historic home in Bridgeport.

The David Perry House.

Images for kids

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  The former Achavath Achim Synagogue.

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  Park Apartments.