Parker Cleaveland House, 1806 residence in Brunswick, Maine
Parker Cleaveland House is a two-story Federal style residence in Brunswick featuring symmetrical windows, refined wood carvings, and a centered entrance with detailed moldings flanked by rectangular sidelights. The exterior displays classic architectural proportions typical of the early 1800s.
The house was constructed in the early 1800s as the residence of mineralogist and professor Parker Cleaveland, who conducted pioneering work in American mineralogy throughout his decades here. His decades-long presence made it an important site for scientific advancement in the region.
The house served as a gathering place where scientists and scholars exchanged ideas about discoveries in natural science. The spaces inside remain as settings where these intellectual conversations took place.
The house sits on Federal Street and functions as the official residence of Bowdoin College presidents while hosting visiting scholars and dignitaries. Visitors should check ahead about visiting hours, as access may be limited due to its ongoing use as a private residence.
The original builder Samuel Melcher III drew architectural inspiration from Atlantic seaport towns while adapting design elements to Brunswick's setting. This blend of coastal influences with local traditions remains visible in the house's details.
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