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

Location of York County in Maine

Welcome to York County, Maine! This area is full of amazing old buildings and places that tell stories about the past. Many of these special spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a special list kept by the United States government to protect important historical places. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its history, architecture, or what happened there.

In York County, there are over 180 places on this list! Some are single buildings, while others are entire neighborhoods called "Historic Districts." A few are even more special, known as "National Historic Landmarks," which means they are important to the history of the entire country. Let's explore some of these cool places!

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service. Being on the Register helps protect these places and often makes them eligible for special grants or tax breaks for their upkeep. It's like giving a gold star to buildings and areas that have played a big part in history!

Cool Historic Places in York County

York County has a rich history, from early settlements to bustling mill towns and beautiful coastal areas. Here are just a few examples of the many special places you can find here:

Lighthouses: Guiding Lights of the Past

Lighthouses are iconic symbols of Maine, and York County has several historic ones that have guided ships for centuries.

Boon Island Light Station

Imagine a lighthouse standing alone on a tiny, rocky island far out at sea! That's the Boon Island Light, located off the coast of York. It's a tall, granite tower that has warned sailors away from dangerous rocks since 1811. It's a truly wild and remote place, showing how important these lights were for safety at sea.

Boon Island Lighthouse, a remote and historic beacon.

Cape Neddick Light Station (The Nubble)

One of Maine's most famous lighthouses is the Cape Neddick Light, often called "The Nubble." It's located on a small island just off the coast of York Beach. Built in 1879, this beautiful white tower with a red roof is a popular spot for visitors and photographers. It's a great example of how lighthouses were built to withstand harsh ocean weather.

The famous Cape Neddick Light, also known as "The Nubble."

Goat Island Light Station

Near Cape Porpoise, you'll find the Goat Island Light on a small island in the harbor. This lighthouse, first built in 1833, has a charming white tower and a keeper's house. It's still active today, helping boats navigate the busy waters.

Goat Island Light in Cape Porpoise Harbor.

Whaleback Light Station

Standing at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, the Whaleback Light is a sturdy granite tower built in 1872. It's designed to withstand powerful storms and has been a crucial aid to navigation for ships entering and leaving the harbor.

The strong Whaleback Light guarding Portsmouth Harbor.

Wood Island Light Station

Off the coast of Biddeford Pool, the Wood Island Light has a long history, with the first lighthouse built here in 1808. The current tower dates back to 1858. It's a beautiful spot that reminds us of the maritime heritage of Maine.

Wood Island Lighthouse, a historic guide for ships.

Historic Homes and Buildings

Many homes and public buildings in York County are on the National Register, showcasing different architectural styles and the lives of people from the past.

Sarah Orne Jewett House

In South Berwick, you can visit the Sarah Orne Jewett House. Sarah Orne Jewett was a famous American writer from the late 1800s. Her home is a beautiful example of colonial architecture and offers a glimpse into her life and times. It's even a National Historic Landmark!

The historic Sarah Orne Jewett House.

Lady Pepperrell House

The Lady Pepperrell House in Kittery Point is another National Historic Landmark. Built in 1760, this grand mansion belonged to Lady Mary Pepperrell, the wife of Sir William Pepperrell, a famous colonial military leader. It's a stunning example of Georgian architecture.

The elegant Lady Pepperrell House in Kittery Point.

Old York Gaol

The Old York Gaol in York is a very old building, dating back to 1719! It was once a colonial jail and is now a museum. It's one of the oldest public buildings in the United States and gives us a fascinating look at what life was like for prisoners long ago. It's also a National Historic Landmark.

The Old York Gaol, a historic jail turned museum.

McIntire Garrison House

Also in York, the McIntire Garrison House is a rare example of a "garrison house," a type of fortified home built in the late 1600s to protect against attacks. It's one of the oldest surviving buildings of its kind in Maine and a National Historic Landmark.

The McIntire Garrison House, a fortified home from the 1600s.

Biddeford City Hall

The Biddeford City Hall in Biddeford is a grand building rebuilt in 1895-96 after a fire. It was designed by a famous Maine architect, John Calvin Stevens. It's a great example of late 19th-century public architecture.

Biddeford City Hall, a landmark in the city.

Ogunquit Playhouse

The Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit is a historic summer theater that opened in 1933. Many famous actors have performed here over the years. It's a wonderful example of a regional theater that has brought entertainment to generations.

The historic Ogunquit Playhouse.

Historic Districts: Preserving Whole Neighborhoods

Sometimes, it's not just one building that's important, but a whole group of buildings that together tell a story. These are called Historic Districts.

Alfred Historic District

The Alfred Historic District in Alfred includes many of the town's older buildings, showing what a traditional New England village looked like. It's a charming area with homes and public buildings that have been around for a long time.

Village Square in the Alfred Historic District.

Alfred Shaker Historic District

Also in Alfred, the Alfred Shaker Historic District preserves buildings from a Shaker community. The Shakers were a religious group known for their simple lifestyle and craftsmanship. This district shows how they lived and worked.

Main Buildings in the Alfred Shaker Historic District.

Kennebunkport Historic District

The Kennebunkport Historic District covers a large part of the charming coastal town of Kennebunkport. It includes many beautiful old homes, shops, and buildings that reflect the town's history as a shipbuilding and fishing community, and later as a popular summer resort.

A view of Ocean Avenue in the Kennebunkport Historic District.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery is a very important historic district. It's one of the oldest naval shipyards in the United States, dating back to 1800. It has played a crucial role in American naval history, building and repairing ships for over two centuries.

Part of the historic Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Former Listings

Sometimes, a place might be removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This usually happens if the building is destroyed or changed so much that it no longer looks like it did historically.

First Parish Congregational Church (Saco, Maine)

The First Parish Congregational Church in Saco was once on the Register. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in 2000 and was removed from the list in 2004.

Gerrish Warehouse

The Gerrish Warehouse in Kittery was also on the list but was demolished. It was removed from the Register in 2015.

Images for kids

Alfred Historic District
Alfred Shaker Historic District
Cape Arundel Golf Club
Austin-Hennessey Homestead
Caleb R. Ayer House
Samuel Badger Monument
Barrell Homestead
Berwick Academy
Former Berwick High School
Biddeford Main Street Historic District
Biddeford-Saco Mills Historic District
Blazo-Leavitt House
Bourne Mansion
Bray House
Royal Brewster House
Buxton Powder House
Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District
Capt. Josiah E. Chase Octagon House
George F. Clifford House
Clock Farm
Colonial Inn
Conant-Sawyer Cottage
Conway Junction Railroad Turntable Site
Cummings' Guest House
Cummings Shoe Factory
Benjamin and Abigail Dalton House
J.G. Deering House
Dennett Garrison
District No. 5 School
Division No. 9 School
Dorfield Farm
Dudley Block
Early Post Office
Eaton House
Elden's Store
Elder Grey Meetinghouse
Emery Homestead
Emery House
Emery School
First Baptist Church
First Congregational Church and Parsonage
First Congregational Church of Buxton
Former First Congregational Church
First Parish Meetinghouse
James Montgomery Flagg House
William Fogg Library
Fort McClary
Levi Foss House
Frank C. Frisbee Elementary School
Frost Garrison and House
Goodale-Bourne Farm
Goodale-Stevens Farm
Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library
Thomas Goodall House
Edmund E. Goodwin House
Grant Family House
Abbott Graves House
Great Falls Manufacturing Company Newichawannock Canal Historic District
Grist Mill Bridge
John Hancock Warehouse
Harper Family House
Hatch House
Hawkes Pharmacy
Thomas Hobbs, Jr., House
Sen. John Holmes House
William Dean Howells House
Mary R. Hurd House
Hussey Plow Company Building
Isles of Shoals
Jacobs Houses and Store
Jewett-Eastman House
Dennis Johnson Lumber Company Mill
John Paul Jones Memorial Park
Old Kennebunk High School
Kennebunk Historic District
Kennebunk River Club
Laudholm Farm
James Leavitt House
Libby's Colonial Tea Room
Libby-MacArthur House
Limerick Upper Village Historic District
Limington Academy
Limington Historic District
Lincoln School
Littlefield Homestead
Littlefield Tavern
Littlefield-Chase Farmstead
Littlefield-Dustin Farm
Littlefield-Keeping House
Lord Farm
Lord Mansion
Capt. Nathaniel Lord Mansion
Lord-Dane House
Lower Alewive Historic District
Maine Trolley Cars
Mill House
Moody Homestead
Capt. James Morison House
Morrell House
Newfield (Willowbrook) Historic District
North Berwick Woolen Mill
Ocean Park Historic Buildings
Odd Fellows-Rebekah Hall
Ogunquit Memorial Library
Old Grist Mill
Old Schoolhouse
Old Town House
Parsons-Piper-Lord-Roy Farm
Parsonsfield Seminary
Paul Family Farm
Pebbledene
William Pepperrell House
Perkins Tide Mill
Charles Perkins House
LeRoy F. Pike Memorial Building
Porter-Parsonfield Bridge
Portsmouth Company Cotton Mills: Counting House
J.L. Prescott House
Rice Public Library
Rock Rest
Robert Rose Tavern
Saco Central Fire Station
Saco City Hall
Saco High School (old)
Saco Historic District
St. Andre's Parish
St. Joseph's School
St. Peter's By-The-Sea Protestant Episcopal Church
Salmon Falls (East) Historic District
Salmon Falls (West) Historic District
Sanford Mills Historic District
Former Sanford Naval Air Station Administration Building and Control Tower
Former Sanford Town Hall
A. B. Seavey House
John Sedgley Homestead
James Smith Homestead
Smith-Emery House
South Berwick Village Historic District
Spiller Farm Paleoindian Site
Staples Inn
Sunnycroft
John Tarr House
The Temple
Thacher-Goodale House
Timber Point
Robert and Louisa Traip House
U.S. Customhouse
U.S. Post Office
US Post Office-Sanford Maine
Wallingford Hall
Waterboro Grange, No. 432
Way Way General Store
Andrew Welch Homestead
Wells Baptist Church Parsonage
Wells Homestead
Mark F. and Eliza J. Wentworth House
West Lebanon Historic District
Kate Douglas Wiggin House
Winn House
York Cliffs Historic District
York Historic District
Gerrish Warehouse

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National Register of Historic Places listings in York County, Maine Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.