Newburyport Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Newburyport Historic District
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Buildings along State Street in the historic district
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by High, Marlboro, Water, Merrimac, and Ashland Sts., Newburyport, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 750 acres (300 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002411 |
| Added to NRHP | August 2, 1984 |
The Newburyport Historic District is a special part of Newburyport, Massachusetts. It includes most of the old downtown area. This district is huge, covering about 750 acres. It has over 2,500 important buildings! These buildings show many different styles. They date all the way from the 1600s to the early 1900s. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
What makes Newburyport special?
Newburyport is located in northeastern Massachusetts. It sits on the south bank of the Merrimack River. The downtown area is close to the Gulf of Maine. The river here flows towards a big harbor.
The streets in Newburyport were laid out a long time ago. This basic street plan dates back to the 1600s. United States Route 1 goes right through the district. The main shopping area is near the river. Homes are mostly found to the west, east, and south.
Old Buildings and Styles
Many buildings in the historic district are from the Federal period. This was a time when Newburyport was very rich. This period ended around the War of 1812. That war made it hard for merchants to trade by sea.
You can see many beautiful Federal mansions on High Street. These are large, fancy homes. The district also has many homes from the late 1800s. These homes were often built for factory workers.
Famous Buildings to See
The district includes several important buildings. Some of these were already famous on their own.
- The former US Custom House is one example. It is now a museum.
- The main post office is another.
- The Caleb Cushing House is a National Historic Landmark. This means it is very important to the history of the United States.
