National Register of Historic Places

Thomaston Historic District

Thomaston, Knox County, Maine
Listed
May 1, 1974
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
74000176

About this property

The Thomaston Historic District encompasses much of the historic town center of Thomaston, Maine. With a settlement history dating to the 17th century, the town is now a showcase of 19th-century architectural styles up to the 1870s. The district extends for about 2 miles (3.2 km) along United States Route 1, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The town center of Thomaston is located at one of the heads of Muscongus Bay, directly adjacent to the mouth of the St. George River on Maine's Mid Coast. This area was first explored by Europeans in the early 17th century, and was the site of trading post for Native Americans in 1630. Settlement did not begin on a large scale until the 1730s because of conflicts with the natives, and the town was incorporated in 1777. The production of lime was from an early date an economically significant industry, as were lumbering and shipbuilding. These industries, and the business activities of American Revolutionary War General Henry Knox in the late 18th century, were critical factors in the town's growth. The historic district primarily along United States Route 1 between Kossuth Street and Maine State Route 131, and along Knox Street, which extends south from US 1 to the harbor. The eastern end of the district is anchored by the 1929 reproduction of General Knox's mansion house, the deteriorated original having been razed in the 1860s. The brick commercial buildings found on Main Street date mainly from the late 19th century, although there is one from the 1850s. Houses lining the streets include fine examples of the Federal and Greek Revival styles. The Baptist church was built in 1828, and given late Victorian styling in the 1870s, while the 1868-69 Episcopal church is a fine example wooden Gothic Revival, reminiscent of the designs of Richard Upjohn but actually the work of Portland architect Francis H. Fassett. National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox County, Maine

Location

Thomaston, Knox County, Maine
44.07946, -69.17626

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Thomaston Historic District

This page lists Thomaston Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Dunn & Elliot Sail Loft
Industrial
0.6 mi
Finnish Congregational Church and Parsonage
Industrial
0.9 mi
Williams, Timothy and Jane, House
Industrial
2.3 mi
Thorndike, George, House
Industrial
3 mi
Rockland Turntable and Engine House
Listed
3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Thomaston Historic District listed on the National Register?

Thomaston Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Thomaston Historic District?

Thomaston Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Thomaston Historic District?

The period of significance for Thomaston Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Thomaston Historic District?

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