West Street Historic District, 19th-century historic district in Bar Harbor, United States.
The West Street Historic District is a collection of 19th-century homes in Bar Harbor featuring Victorian and Colonial Revival architecture throughout its streets. The buildings display detailed woodwork, expansive porches, and design elements characteristic of the wealthy summer residents who lived there.
In the late 1800s, wealthy families from eastern cities began building summer homes in this district, transforming the location from a fishing village into a destination. This growth established Bar Harbor as one of America's most prominent seasonal retreat centers.
Names carved into the district's houses carry their own history: "La Rochelle" is cut into the masonry of the main gates, while "The Kedge" recalls A. Veazie, for whom it was built in 1871. The Bar Harbor Club, a Tudor Revival building of 1929–30, drew many of society's elites as early members.
The district is easy to explore on foot, allowing visitors to choose their own route through the streets and neighborhoods. Walking at a leisurely pace helps you notice the varied architectural details and landscaping features that give each house its own character.
The 1947 fire destroyed many of Bar Harbor's summer estates, but West Street kept one of the best surviving concentrations of them. The oldest house, "The Kedge", is a Second Empire building of 1871, moved to the street in 1886 when it was formally laid out.
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