Architecture
23 places · Colonial, maritime & historic
Portland, ME
Portland Observatory
Built in 1807 on Munjoy Hill, this is the last remaining maritime signal tower in the United States. The octagonal shingled tower stands 86 feet tall and was used to signal approaching merchant ships. The surrounding hill provides panoramic views of Casco Bay, the Portland skyline, and the White Mountains.
Woodstock, VT
Middle Covered Bridge
A Town lattice truss covered bridge spanning the Ottauquechee River in the center of Woodstock village, originally built in 1969 to replace an 1877 structure. The bridge is one of few covered bridges in Vermont located in the heart of a village. The river provides reflection opportunities and the bridge is lit at night during the holiday season.
Boston, MA
Trinity Church in Copley Square
Trinity Church is a Romanesque Revival masterpiece designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and consecrated in 1877. The church is reflected in the glass facade of the adjacent John Hancock Tower, creating one of Boston's most iconic photographic compositions. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Jackson, NH
Jackson Covered Bridge (Honeymoon Bridge)
The Jackson Covered Bridge, also known as the Honeymoon Bridge, is a paddleford truss bridge built in 1876 spanning the Ellis River in the center of Jackson village. The bright red bridge is one of New Hampshire's most iconic covered bridges and is framed by mountains in multiple directions. The Ellis River below provides foreground interest with small cascades and river rocks.
Gorham, NH
Stark Covered Bridge and Village
The Stark Covered Bridge is a paddleford truss bridge built in 1862 spanning the Upper Ammonoosuc River. The white steepled Union Church sits directly behind the bridge, creating one of New Hampshire's most composed village scenes. The village of Stark has a population of under 600 people and retains its 19th-century character.
Middlebury, VT
Middlebury College Campus
Founded in 1800, Middlebury College features a blend of Federal, Gothic, and modern architecture set on a hillside with views of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks. Mead Memorial Chapel and Old Chapel are notable landmarks. The campus quad framed by limestone buildings and mature trees is particularly striking in autumn.
Gloucester, MA
Hammond Castle Museum
Hammond Castle is a medieval-style castle built between 1926 and 1929 by inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. on the rocky shore of Gloucester overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The castle incorporates authentic medieval architectural elements collected from Europe, including a Roman bath and a 15th-century facade. The Great Hall contains one of the largest pipe organs ever installed in a private home.
Newport, RI
The Breakers
This 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo was built in 1895 as the summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. The mansion features elaborate ornamentation, imported marble, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. The grounds offer dramatic views of the Rhode Island coastline from the Cliff Walk side.
Portland, ME
Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse)
This small Greek Revival-style lighthouse built in 1875 stands at the end of a granite breakwater in South Portland. Its ornate classical design is unique among New England lighthouses. Bug Light Park provides views across Portland Harbor with the city skyline as a backdrop.
Stowe, VT
Emily's Bridge (Gold Brook Covered Bridge)
A historic covered bridge built in 1844 spanning Gold Brook on Covered Bridge Road in Stowe. The bridge uses a Howe truss design and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is locally known as Vermont's most haunted covered bridge, which adds to its atmospheric character for photography.
North Conway, NH
Albany Covered Bridge
This historic covered bridge spans the Swift River along the Kancamagus Highway and was originally built in 1858. The paddleford truss bridge was restored in 1970 and is one of the most photographed covered bridges in New Hampshire. The Swift River below the bridge features smooth granite boulders and clear water pools.
Burlington, VT
Church Street Marketplace
A four-block pedestrian mall in downtown Burlington lined with 19th-century commercial buildings and anchored by the Unitarian Church at its head. Street performers, café patrons, and seasonal decorations create a lively atmosphere. The brick-lined street and historic facades offer strong architectural leading lines.
Manchester, VT
Hildene – The Lincoln Family Home
The 24-room Georgian Revival mansion built in 1905 by Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, set on 412 acres with formal gardens and views of the Battenkill Valley. The property includes restored gardens, a 1903 Pullman car, and a working farm. The formal garden's geometric patterns and the estate's sweeping valley views provide strong compositions.
Manchester, VT
Manchester Village Historic District
A well-preserved village with white marble sidewalks, grand Federal and Colonial Revival homes, and the Equinox Resort. The marble sidewalks, laid in the 19th century from local quarries, give the streetscape a distinctive character. Mount Equinox rises directly behind the village, providing a dramatic backdrop.
Boston, MA
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Faneuil Hall is a historic marketplace and meeting hall built in 1742, located near the waterfront in downtown Boston. The adjacent Quincy Market, completed in 1826, features a long granite Greek Revival structure. The area is a National Historic Landmark and a stop on the Freedom Trail.
Northampton, MA
Northampton Main Street from Round House
Downtown Northampton features a walkable collection of 19th-century commercial architecture along Main Street, anchored by the Romanesque-style courthouse and the historic Academy of Music theater built in 1891. The Round House parking garage offers an elevated vantage point of the downtown streetscape and surrounding hills. The city is known for its vibrant arts community and independent shops.
Williamstown, MA
Chapin Library of Rare Books, Williams College
Williams College campus in Williamstown features a blend of Georgian, Gothic Revival, and modern architecture set against the backdrop of the northern Berkshires. The campus includes the Clark Art Institute's Tadao Ando-designed Stone Hill complex and the Log, a replica of the original 1793 free school building. The surrounding mountain scenery and historic architecture create a quintessential New England collegiate landscape.
Providence, RI
Benefit Street
Known as the 'Mile of History,' Benefit Street contains one of the densest concentrations of original colonial and early American architecture in the United States. The street features over 200 preserved buildings spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. Gas-style streetlights and brick sidewalks complement the historic facades.
New Haven, CT
New Haven Green
The New Haven Green is a 16-acre park at the center of downtown New Haven that has served as the city's public commons since 1638. Three historic churches line the upper green: Trinity Church (Gothic Revival), Center Church (Federal), and United Church (Federal with a steeple). The Green is one of the earliest planned public spaces in America.
New Haven, CT
Yale University Campus
Yale University's central campus features a collection of Collegiate Gothic buildings designed by architect James Gamble Rogers in the 1920s and 1930s. Harkness Tower rises 216 feet and serves as a visual landmark. The campus also contains notable modern architecture including the Beinecke Rare Book Library by Gordon Bunshaft and the Yale Art Gallery by Louis Kahn.
Portland, ME
Old Port District
Portland's Old Port is a historic waterfront neighborhood with cobblestone streets and 19th-century brick commercial buildings. The district includes working wharves, fishing boats, and a mix of restaurants and galleries. The area retains its character as a working maritime commercial center.
Pemaquid, ME
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site
This archaeological site preserves the remains of English colonial settlements dating to the early 1600s and a reconstructed Fort William Henry. Foundation ruins, artifacts, and the stone fort replica sit on the shore of Pemaquid Harbor. The site documents over 400 years of European settlement on the Maine coast.
Kennebunkport, ME
Dock Square
The historic center of Kennebunkport where the Kennebunk River meets the tidal basin. The square features 18th and 19th-century buildings, the arched bridge over the river, and views of the working waterfront. Lobster boats and pleasure craft moor along the river banks.