The Belfast Historic District encompasses a large area of the city center and includes a variety of residential, commercial, religious, and governmental buildings. There are 287 properties listed in the district, and many of them were constructed before 1900. The district includes buildings on eighteen different streets. Various architectural styles were employed by its citizens including Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Renaissance Revival designs. Belfast was first settled in the late-eighteenth century. Like many coastal towns, the community's early growth depended on fishing, shipbuilding, and commerce. By the mid-to-late nineteenth century economic diversification and industrialization contributed to the city's continued growth. The city's biggest building boom occurred during the 1830s through 1850s and many of the most wealthy merchants built ornate houses within the area. Most of the commercial buildings within the district tended to adhere to conservative designs with few distinctive features. Three more buildings were added to the district in 1993 and a theatre was included in 1995.
Year Listed: 1986
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=76d50aed-7450-47e1-ad5f-101084735866