A National Historic Landmark, the Nickels-Sortwell House, located on Main Street in downtown Wiscasset, demonstrates the influence of Asher Benjamin's design guides on early New England architecture. Most notably, the main entrance looks similar to Plate 20 in his 1806 edition of American Builders Companion. The house is an example of a large frame townhouse built in the Federal style. The house's most notable features include the elaborate elliptical fanlight over the front entry, the second-story Palladian window (an arched window flanked by two smaller windows), the third story concentric lunette window, and upper story pilasters with elaborate capitals. Shortly after construction was completed, the builder, Captain William Nickels, died. The building served as a hotel circa 1820-1900 and went through various changes in 1900 before restoration by Alvin Sortwell in 1917 and 1918. Today the Nickels-Sortwell House is owned by Historic New England and is a house museum. It is open to the public from early June to the middle of October.
Year Listed: 1970 (individually); 1973 (historic district)
NHL Designation: 1970
For More Information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=7a87fa62-7042-4269-8b64-eae6ff57844f
https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/nickels-sortwell-house/