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
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 […]
Tucker Castle
As a member of Historic New England, I set a goal to visit all of their properties. One of those visits led me to the beautiful town of Wiscasset Maine and Castle Tucker. I wasn’t entirely sure how this particular property was chosen to be preserved. It does not stand out for a single defining event […]
The Fort House
While visiting Colonial Pemaquid in New Harbor, Maine, I was naturally drawn to the reconstructed fort overlooking the harbor. Yet one of the buildings that interested me most was not the fort itself, but the simple white structure known as the Fort House. At first glance, it appears to be a typical eighteenth-century New England […]
