City and State: Wenham, Massachusetts
Listed: 1973
Type of district: National Register historic district, state historic district, local historic district
Main Intersection: Main and Monument Streets
Wenham National Register Historic District Report
Wenham National Register Historic District Map
The Wenham Historic District is representative of a typical old New England main street. It has remained essentially unchanged during the greater part of its long history, one that spans more than three centuries. Located along Wenham Lake, Main Street features a variety of houses reflective of several periods. The historic district contains 89 buildings and represents a wide variety of architectural styles popular in New England from the 17th century through the 19th century including Federal, Colonial, Mansard, Carpenter Gothic, Victorian, Greek Revival and Italian Villa. With one exception, all of the buildings are of clapboard, wood frame construction. They are modest in size, seldom pure in style, and offer a mix of features. The homes were often altered to suit the needs of successive generations and for that reason are not true to more formal and conventional city styles.