Black Rock Historic District

The Black Rock Historic District is a neighborhood in Bridgeport featuring about 109 buildings in Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, and Queen Anne architectural styles spread across the area. These buildings sit along the shoreline and showcase different periods of construction from early times through the 1800s.

The neighborhood was founded in 1644 and grew into an important port along the Connecticut coast. By the 1760s, a bridge over Ash Creek connected it to Fairfield Center and helped it become Connecticut's third largest port.

The neighborhood takes its name from the dark rock formation that once marked the shoreline and served as a landmark for ships approaching the harbor. Walking through the streets today, you can see how these buildings reflect the prosperity that maritime trade brought to the area.

The best way to explore this neighborhood is on foot to appreciate the architectural details of the buildings. The area is relatively compact and walking through it takes about one to two hours depending on how thoroughly you want to look around.

The Gould Brothers House, built in 1868, stands as a double residence designed for two siblings who were both building contractors. This building is an uncommon example of French Second Empire style found in this part of Connecticut.

Location: Bridgeport

Elevation above the sea: 15 m

GPS coordinates: 41.15306,-73.22139

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:45