National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Maine facts for kids

Location of Washington County in Maine

Washington County, Maine, is a beautiful area in the easternmost part of the United States. It's known for its stunning coastline, forests, and rich history. Many special places in Washington County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is an official list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our shared heritage. This helps protect these places for future generations to enjoy and learn from. Washington County has over 100 such historic places!

Historic Places You Can Explore

Many of the places on the National Register in Washington County are open to the public, or you can see them from the outside. They tell amazing stories about the past.

Old Forts and Important Sites

• "The Rim" and Site of Fort Foster (East Machias): This spot is south of East Machias. It's where Fort Foster once stood, playing a role in early American history.
• Fort O'Brien (Machiasport): Located south of Machiasport, this fort was important during different wars. It reminds us of the battles fought to protect the area.
• Fort Sullivan (Eastport): Found on Moose Island, Fort Sullivan was a key defense point. Its barracks at 74 Washington Street are still there today.
• St. Croix Island International Historic Site (Calais): This island in the St. Croix River is super important! It was the site of an early French settlement in North America back in 1604. It's a place where history truly comes alive.

Charming Historic Buildings

Many old houses and churches in Washington County are on the list, showing us how people lived and worshipped long ago.

Houses with History

• Archibald-Adams House (Cherryfield): This house on State Route 193 in Cherryfield is a beautiful example of older architecture.
• Charles Best House (West Pembroke): You can find this historic home on County Road in West Pembroke.
• Henrietta Brewer House and John N.M. Brewer House (Robbinston): These two houses, both on U.S. Route 1 in Robbinston, offer a glimpse into the past lives of their original owners.
• Bucknam House and Samuel Bucknam House (Columbia Falls): Both on Main Street, these houses show the history of Columbia Falls.
• Burnham Tavern (Machias): Located at 14 Colonial Way, this tavern is a very old building that played a role in the American Revolution. It's a great place to imagine what life was like back then.
• Gen. Alexander Campbell House, David W. Campbell House, Frank Campbell House, and Col. Samuel Campbell House (Cherryfield): Cherryfield has several historic Campbell family homes, mostly along U.S. Route 1 and Main Street, showing the importance of this family in the town's history.
• Chaloner House (Lubec): At 3 Pleasant Street in Lubec, this house is a significant part of the town's heritage.
• Jeremiah Fowler House (Lubec): Another historic home in Lubec, located at 35 School Street.
• Gates House (Machiasport): This house on State Route 92 in Machiasport has a long history.
• Gilmore House (Calais): Found at 764 River Road in Calais, this house is a historic landmark.
• Thomas Hamilton House (Calais): Located at 78 South Street, this house is another piece of Calais's past.
• Holmes Cottage (Calais): At 521 Main Street, this cottage is now part of the St. Croix Historical Society museum.
• Dr. Job Holmes House (Calais): Also at 527 Main Street, this house is another part of the St. Croix Historical Society museum, often called "Holmestead."
• Theodore Jellison House (Calais): This house on River Road in Calais is a historic property.
• Lincoln House (Dennysville): On State Route 86, this house is a key part of Dennysville's history.
• The Mansion House (Robbinston): North of Robbinston on U.S. Route 1, this grand house stands out.
• McGlashan-Nickerson House (Red Beach, Calais): Near Pettegrove Point on St. Croix Drive, this house is a historic gem.
• William M. Nash House (Cherryfield): On River Road, this house adds to Cherryfield's historic charm.
• Clark Perry House (Machias): Located on Court Street, this house is a significant part of Machias's history.
• Joshua Pettegrove House (Red Beach, Calais): East of U.S. Route 1, this house is another historic site in the Calais area.
• Capt. John Plummer House (Addison): At 23 Pleasant Street, this house is a historic part of Addison.
• Ruggles House (Columbia Falls): On Main Street, this house is a famous example of beautiful old architecture.
• James R. Talbot House (East Machias): On U.S. Route 1, this house is a historic landmark.
• Todd House (Eastport): At 11 Capens Avenue, this house is a historic part of Eastport.
• Everett Wallace House (Milbridge): West of U.S. Route 1, this house is a historic property in Milbridge.
• George Washburn House (Calais): At 772 River Road, this house is another historic building in Calais.
• Daniel Young House (Lubec): At 34 Main Street, this house is a historic part of Lubec.
• Windswept (Steuben): Located at 421 Petit Manan Point Road, this property is a historic site.

Historic Churches

• Central Congregational Church (Eastport): On Middle Street, this church is a beautiful historic building.
• Centre Street Congregational Church (Machias): On Centre Street, this church is an important part of Machias.
• Columbia Union Church (Epping, Columbia): This church on Epping Road is a historic place of worship.
• Grace Episcopal Church (Robbinston): On U.S. Route 1, this church is a historic landmark.
• Indian River Baptist Church (Addison): On State Route 187, this church is a historic building.
• Jonesboro Union Church (Jonesboro): On Looks Point Road, this church is a historic site.
• Sewall Memorial Congregational Church (Robbinston): At 558 U.S. Route 1, this church is a historic place of worship.
• St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Calais): On Church Street, this church is a historic landmark.
• Union Church, (former) (Columbia Falls): On Main Street, this former church is a historic building.
• Union Evangelical Church (Addison): On Addison Ridge Road, this church is a historic place of worship.
• Union Meeting House (Whiting): At 153 U.S. Route 1, this meeting house is a historic site.
• Whitneyville Congregational Church (Whitneyville): On Main Street, this church is a historic landmark.

Important Public Buildings and Districts

• Former Boynton High School (Eastport): Now the Eastport City Hall at 78 High Street, this building has a rich history.
• Boynton Street Historic District (Eastport): This district includes 13-26 Boynton Street, showcasing a historic neighborhood.
• Calais Free Library (Calais): On Union Street, this library is a beautiful historic building.
• Calais Historic District (Calais): This district includes Church, Main, and North Streets, preserving a historic part of Calais.
• Calais Observatory (Calais): Located in Meridian Park on North Street, this granite installation was used for an important longitude survey in 1857.
• Calais Residential Historic District (Calais): This area along Main Street, Calais Avenue, and Swan Street is a historic neighborhood.
• Cherryfield Academy (Cherryfield): On Main Street, this building now houses town offices but was once an academy.
• Cherryfield Historic District (Cherryfield): This district includes Church, Main, Park, New and High Streets, and River Road properties, preserving a large historic area.
• Columbia House (Columbia Falls): On Main Street, this building is a historic landmark.
• Dennysville Historic District (Dennysville): This district includes The Lane, Main, and King Streets, preserving a historic part of Dennysville.
• East Machias Historic District (East Machias): This district includes High, Water, and Bridge Streets, preserving a historic part of East Machias.
• Eastport Historic District (Eastport): This district includes Water Street and 15 Sea Street, preserving a large historic area of Eastport.
• Gallison Memorial Library (Harrington): On U.S. Route 1, this library is a historic building.
• Hinckley Hill Historic District (Calais): This district includes 305-326 Main Street, preserving a historic neighborhood.
• Jonesboro Grange No. 357 (Jonesboro): On Harrington Road, this Grange hall is a historic building.
• Liberty Hall (Machiasport): On State Route 92, this hall is a historic landmark.
• Machias Post Office and Customhouse (Machias): At Main and Center Streets, this building served important public functions.
• Machias Railroad Station (Machias): At 27 East Main Street, this old train station is a historic site.
• Machias Valley Grange, No. 360 (Former) (Machias): At 3 Elm Street, this former Grange hall is a historic building.
• Marsh Stream Farm (Machiasport): At 38 Marsh Stream Lane, this farm is a historic property.
• McCurdy Smokehouse (Lubec): On Water Street, this smokehouse is a historic site related to the fishing industry.
• Henry D. Moore Parish House and Library (Steuben): At 3 Rogers Point Road, this building served as both a parish house and a library.
• Patten Building (Cherryfield): On Main Street, this building is a historic landmark.
• Pike's Mile Markers (Calais): These twelve markers along U.S. Route 1 between Robbinston and Calais are historic landmarks.
• Porter Memorial Library (Machias): On Court Street, this library is a beautiful historic building.
• U.S. Inspection Station-Calais (Ferry Point) (Calais): At 1 Main Street, this inspection station is a historic building.
• Union Hall (Danforth): Near the junction of U.S. Route 1 and State Route 169, this hall is a historic landmark.
• Washington County Courthouse (Machias): On Court Street, this courthouse is an important historic building.
• Washington County Jail (Machias): Also on Court Street, this jail is a historic building.
• West Quoddy Lifesaving Station (Lubec): On the northern side of West Quoddy Head, this station is a historic site.

Lighthouses and Coastal Landmarks

Maine is famous for its lighthouses, and Washington County has several important ones!

• Libby Island Light Station (Machiasport): South of Machiasport on Libby Island, this lighthouse helps guide ships.
• Little River Light Station (Cutler): On Little River Island, this lighthouse is a historic landmark.
• Lubec Channel Light Station (Lubec): In the Lubec Channel, this lighthouse helps guide ships.
• Narraguagus Light Station (Milbridge): On the eastern side of Pond Island, this lighthouse is a historic landmark.
• Petit Manan Light Station (Milbridge): On Petit Manan Island, this lighthouse is a historic landmark.
• West Quoddy Head Light Station (Lubec): Southeast of Lubec on West Quoddy Head, this is the easternmost lighthouse in the United States and a very famous landmark!
• Whitlocks Mill Light Station (Calais): On the southern bank of the St. Croix River, this lighthouse is a historic landmark.

Archaeological Sites

Some places on the National Register are not buildings but important archaeological sites where scientists have found clues about ancient cultures.

• Atkinson-Koskinen Site 45.13 (Steuben): This is an archaeological site.
• Birch Point (Machiasport): This is an archaeological site.
• Charlotte Pound (Charlotte): On Charlotte Road, this site is a historic landmark.
• Devils Head Site (Calais): This is an archaeological site.
• Governors Point (Grand Lake Stream): This is an archaeological site.
• Grand Lake Stream Site (Grand Lake Stream): This is an archaeological site.
• Hog Island-62.23, Hog Island-62.24, Hog Island-62.25, Hog Island-62.29 (Machiasport): These are all archaeological sites on Hog Island.
• Holmes Point (Machiasport): This is an archaeological site.
• Maine Archeological Survey site 62.46 (Machiasport): On an island in Machias Bay, this site has ancient carvings of European ships!
• Ntolonapemk, Eastern Surplus Superfund Site (Meddybemps): This site is important for understanding past cultures.
• Reversing Falls Site (Pembroke): This is an archaeological site.

Places That Were Once Listed

Sometimes, a place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if it's moved or if it changes too much.

• The Lion (locomotive): This historic train engine was once listed when it was on display at the University of Maine at Machias. It was later moved to the Maine State Museum in Augusta, which is why it's no longer on the Washington County list.