The Wedding Cake House
This is not a house I have been able to visit, but I have driven by it many times over the years. Known as the Wedding Cake House, it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Kennebunk, Maine.
Built in 1825 by shipbuilder George W. Bourne, the house originally reflected the Federal style popular in early nineteenth-century New England. Bourne was inspired by the intricate details he saw on the cathedral in Milan during one of his travels. He transformed his home with elaborate wooden trim and decorative elements, creating what architectural historians describe as an outstanding example of Carpenter Gothic. Its fanciful appearance eventually earned it the nickname “The Wedding Cake House.”
Although the house is privately owned and not open to the public, it has become one of Maine’s most photographed homes. Each time I drive past it, I am reminded that some places do not need to be entered to be appreciated. Nearly two centuries after George Bourne built it, the Wedding Cake House continues to delight travelers and stands as a testament to the craftsmanship and prosperity that Maine’s shipbuilding industry once brought to the region.
Read More From Nancy
Sarah Orne Jewett House
One of the highlights of visiting South Berwick, Maine, was touring the Sarah Orne Jewett House, one of New England’s important literary landmarks. Built in 1774 and expanded over generations, the house reflects both the architectural evolution of a prosperous New England family and the rich cultural heritage of the community. Best known as the lifelong home of author […]
Walker’s Point
In the coastal town of Kennebunkport sits the Bush family home at Walker’s Point, a place that blends personal history with a broader national story. Perched on a rocky stretch of coastline overlooking the Atlantic, the home has been in the Bush family since the early 1900s. It became widely known as the summer residence of George […]
Wadsworth-Longfellow House
Here is a photo from one of our visits to Portland, Maine, standing in front of the Longfellow House. Sitting right on Congress Street, in the middle of downtown life. is this Wadsworth-Longfellow House, the oldest surviving structure on the Portland peninsula. It was built in 1785-1786 by General Peleg Wadsworth, a Revolutionary War hero […]
