36-542: The Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District encompasses an enclave of large summer estates on the coast of Kennebunkport, Maine . The area was developed in the late 19th and early 20th century as a resort area for the wealthy of the northeastern United States. It notably includes the Kennebunk River Club and Walkers Point, the location of the Bush compound , which has a Shingle-style house built in 1903. The district
72-583: A church, grocery store, coffee shop, small library, and art gallery. Kennebunkport has a reputation as a summer haven for the upper class and is one of the wealthiest communities in the state of Maine. The Municipality of Kennebunkport includes the constituent villages of Kennebunkport Village, Cape Arundel & Colony Beach, the Cottage Coast, Wilde's District (Wildwood), Goose Rocks Beach, Turbatts Creek, Cape Porpoise Village, North Village Crossing (Townhouse Corner), among various other newer developments. The town
108-409: A dining room, a kitchen, and various patios and decks. Next to the main house are a four-car garage, a pool, tennis court, dock, boathouse, and guesthouse. There are spacious lawns on either side of the house, on which there is a small sportsfield. The entrance is gated and guarded by Secret Service officers, though visitors can see the driveway leading up to the main house and a circular driveway, in
144-836: A downtown book shop making a notable appearance. Robin Wright appeared on set in Kennebunkport. Other films with scenes shot in Kennebunkport include Lost Boundaries (1949), The Man Who Knew Bush (2004 documentary), The Living Wake (2007), 41 (2012 documentary) and US Route 1-ME (2012). My Husband's Double Life was partially set in the town, but filmed in Toronto . 43°21′42″N 70°28′36″W / 43.36167°N 70.47667°W / 43.36167; -70.47667 Walker%27s Point Estate 43°20′36″N 70°27′34″W / 43.3433°N 70.4594°W / 43.3433; -70.4594 Walker's Point Estate (or
180-617: A family home ever since, and has been owned by the Bush family since sometime in the early 1980s. The Bushes' ancestry is distinct from the Walker family that settled York County, Maine. Some of this family's Walker relatives are buried in the Kennebunkport area ancient cemeteries. During his presidency, George H.W. Bush often invited world leaders, from Margaret Thatcher to Mikhail Gorbachev , to Kennebunkport. In 2007, his son George W. Bush invited Vladimir Putin and Nicolas Sarkozy . The Bush compound
216-491: A historic town center at Burbank Hill (there are a few historic buildings of interest here, including a schoolhouse and jail). Heading west, towards the mouth of the Kennebunk River is Dock Square, the current town center. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Kennebunkport, and especially Cape Arundel (also known as Point Arundel), developed as a summer colony for the wealthy. Traveling from Dock Square along Ocean Avenue
252-399: A shipbuilding and fishing village, for well over a century the town has been a popular summer colony and seaside tourist destination. The Dock Square area has a district of souvenir shops, art galleries, schooner attractions, seafood restaurants, and bed and breakfasts . Cape Porpoise , while retaining its identity as a fishing harbor, has a very small village area with several restaurants,
288-578: A year during his presidency. His " Summer White House " (also known as the " Western White House ") was the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas . The estate is situated on a promontory of land called Walker's Point which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The large central house, built in the New England shingle style , has nine bedrooms, four sitting rooms, an office, a den, a library,
324-574: Is a resort town in York County , Maine , United States. The population was 3,629 people at the 2020 census . It is part of the Portland – South Portland – Biddeford metropolitan statistical area . The town center, the area in and around Dock Square , is located along the Kennebunk River , approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from the mouth of the river on the Atlantic Ocean. Historically
360-407: Is land and 28.83 square miles (74.67 km ) is water. The town has several distinct areas, each developed during a phase of the town's history. The original town center was at Cape Porpoise , which today has a small village center, is both a summer colony and year-round community, and hosts a working fishing harbor. Inland from Cape Porpoise is a mix of forest and agricultural land, punctuated by
396-482: Is on Walkers Point, called Point Vesuvius prior to the Walker family's acquisition. As of 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $ 54,219, and the median income for a family was $ 66,505. Males had a median income of $ 43,125 versus $ 34,028 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 36,707. About 1.7% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over. As of
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#1732858391499432-596: Is salt-water marsh. This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Kennebunkport has a humid continental climate , abbreviated Dfb on climate maps. Kennebunkport was also the summer home of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush , father of former U.S. President George W. Bush . First built by Bush's maternal grandfather George Herbert Walker , it has been
468-487: Is the Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District. This district of many well-preserved examples of early-20th-century shingle-style cottages begins at Chick's Creek and ends at Walker's Point. The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge has a significant portion of lands in Kennebunkport, northeast of Cape Porpoise and through Goose Rocks. Within Kennebunkport, much of this protected land
504-493: Is the home of Walker's Point , a summer estate of the Bush family . Kennebunkport and neighboring towns Kennebunk and Arundel comprise school district RSU 21. The Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude takes place annually in the town, beginning either in late November or early December. Kennebunkport was first incorporated in 1653 as Cape Porpus , subject to the government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (Maine
540-616: The Bush compound ) is the summer retreat of the Bush family , in the town of Kennebunkport, Maine . It lies along the Atlantic Ocean in the northeastern United States , on Walker's Point. The estate served as the Summer White House of George H. W. Bush , the 41st president of the United States . Walker's Point juts out into the ocean in southern Maine approximately midway between
576-489: The census of 2010, there were 3,474 people, 1,578 households, and 1,039 families residing in the town. The population density was 169.3 inhabitants per square mile (65.4/km ). There were 2,897 housing units at an average density of 141.2 per square mile (54.5/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 99.0% White , 0.2% African American , 0.1% Native American , 0.7% Asian , 0.3% from other races , and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of
612-515: The " Summer White House ," Bush hosted world leaders including Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev for informal and private meetings. As a young man, Bush relocated to Houston , Texas; eventually the Bushes maintained a working residence in Tanglewood , where they spent most of their time. George H. W. wrote of his memories there to Portland Magazine in 1997 after reading the article "Inventing
648-735: The Campbells". The Campbells were the heirs to the Palm Beach clothing fortune and had a home in the Kennebunks. "I really enjoyed that article about the Campbells by Colin Sargent, July/August 1997). I remember Connie, Babs, and Bill—remember them well and very favorably. Connie was the glamour girl, all right. When she would flash by in that neat little Chris Craft , blonde hair flying, all us little guys, who were madly in love with her—from afar, that is—used to sigh and dream. We would hang around hoping that this
684-481: The Ocean Bluff Hotel in 1873, but development did not take off until a railroad spur was completed the following year. More hotels were built, with summer "cottages" following as road access to the area was improved. The Kennebunk River Club was built in 1889 as a major social venue. A significant number of the buildings in the district were designed by prominent architects of the day, and many were executed in
720-523: The Shingle style of architecture popular for summer houses in the late 19th century. John Calvin Stevens , a noted Portland architect, designed several buildings, as did William Ralph Emerson and Henry Paston Clark. Clark and his partners in particular designed at least 29 houses in the area. Many of these properties line Ocean Avenue, extending along the southernmost stretch of the Kennebunk River, and around
756-722: The cape to just east of Walkers Point, which juts south into the sea. Most of these are on the inland side of the road, with the Bush compound , which is located on Walkers Point. This property was sold to George Herbert Walker by the Sea Shore Company in 1902, and had two Shingle style houses built the following year. One has since been demolished; the other now serves as the summer home of former United States President George H. W. Bush . 43°20′36″N 70°28′07″W / 43.3434°N 70.4687°W / 43.3434; -70.4687 Kennebunkport, Maine Kennebunkport / ˌ k ɛ n i ˈ b ʌ ŋ k ˌ p ɔːr t /
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#1732858391499792-547: The cities of Portland , Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire . The property was previously known as Point Vesuvius and was home to a Kennebunkport city park called "Damon Park", but has been a Bush retreat for more than a century, starting with Bush's maternal grandfather and great-grandfather , George Herbert Walker and David Davis Walker . The estate was purchased in the late 19th century jointly by Bush's great-grandfather David Davis Walker , and his son, St. Louis banker George Herbert "Bert" Walker . Both built mansions on
828-510: The early summer colonies; although Cape Porpoise was, and still is, a working fishing harbor. Since 1939, Kennebunkport has been home to the Seashore Trolley Museum . The Great Fires of 1947 , which devastated much of York County, affected Kennebunkport and especially the area near Goose Rocks Beach. Much of the housing near Goose Rocks Beach was destroyed by the fire, but the area has since recovered and been rebuilt. Like much of
864-685: The geology here differs from that of the outer lands (Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, Block Island in Rhode Island, and Long Island in New York), which were formed as terminal and recessional moraines , and do not contain much in the way of a bedrock skeleton. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 49.35 square miles (127.82 km ), of which 20.52 square miles (53.15 km )
900-467: The middle of which is a large flagpole flying the American flag. When either presidents Bush were present at the compound while in office, the presidential flag was hoisted below the national colors; the flagpole was a popular backdrop for television journalists during the elder Bush's presidency. The home and contents were substantially damaged by a strong series of storms in late October 1991. The damage
936-679: The milita ashore. The Patriot casualites were Captain James Burnham killed in action; civilian Samuel Wildes was wounded when he demanded the Loyalists return the vessels they had taken. In 1821 the town was renamed again, this time to Kennebunkport in reflection to its economy becoming one of shipbuilding and trade along the Kennebunk River . By the 1870s the town had developed as a popular summer destination , with both hotels and homes constructed along its coastline. Cape Arundel, Cape Porpoise , and Beachwood (now called Goose Rocks ) were some of
972-417: The most glamorous of women would give us a ride in that flashy boat. Barbara was a wonderful girl, too. Just my age—so my friends and I were not quite as intimidated by her as we were by the slightly older Connie. Anyway, your story brought back many happy memories ... President George Bush, Houston, Texas" Bush's son, the 43rd President, George W. Bush , visited with family in Kennebunkport several times
1008-576: The northeast coast, the geography of the southern Maine coast was largely directed by the retreat of the Laurentide ice cap about 23,000 years ago. The coast is framed by bedrock, left during the formation of the Appalachian mountains, and the irregular shape of the coast (characteristic of much of the New England coast, with the exception of Cape Cod and the islands) is attributed to differential erosion of
1044-481: The point in 1902. D. D. Walker's mansion has since been torn down. In 1921, Dorothy Walker and Prescott Bush were married, and Bert Walker built a "bungalow" on the Point and gave it to them as a wedding present. When Bert died in 1953, his son, George Herbert Walker Jr. ("Herbie"), purchased the property from his father's estate. It was not willed to him. Upon the death of Herbie in 1977, the property again went up for sale and
1080-441: The population. There were 1,578 households, of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
1116-603: The underlying rock layer. The coast along Kennebunkport differs sharply from the Maine coast north and east of Portland due to differences in the composition of this rock layer. Beyond Portland, the layer is a largely metamorphic rock, but here the coast is a mixture of igneous rock, and embayments of more deeply eroded sedimentary and metamorphic rock. These embayments result in the sandy beaches that can be found in southern Maine (such as Goose Rocks Beach, Colony Beach, and nearby Kennebunk Beach) but are uncommon north of Portland. Likewise,
Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-446: Was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.68. The median age in the town was 51.8 years. 17.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.2% were from 25 to 44; 36.5% were from 45 to 64, and 24.7% were 65 years of age or older. The sex makeup of the town was 47.5% male and 52.5% female. Kennebunkport was featured in the 2003 filming of the film Empire Falls by Maine author Richard Russo , with
1188-517: Was admitted to the Union in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise ). Due to Abenaki Indian resistance to colonial expansion, European settlers abandoned the town by 1689 and did not return for at least ten years. The Wabanaki Confederacy again expelled English from the area from 1703 to 1717, and continued violent resistance to colonization until the end of King George's War in 1748. The town
1224-505: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Cape Arundel is located on the southern coast of Maine, just east of the mouth of the Kennebunk River . The village center of Kennebunkport is set a short way up the river. Development of this area as a summer resort began in the 1870s with the formation of the Sea Shore Company, which purchased most of the land in the area, and promoted its development. The company built
1260-412: Was purchased by his nephew, George H. W. Bush . The estate has since remained in the Bush family. President Bush spent much of his childhood at the Kennebunkport estate. As an adult, Bush, his wife Barbara , and their children George W. , Jeb , Marvin , Neil , Dorothy , and Robin spent most summers at the estate. The estate has been a backdrop of family weddings, holidays, and receptions. While at
1296-404: Was renamed Arundel, and the town center located inland at Burbank Hill. On August 8, 1782 Arundel was under attack by two loyalist vessels: the 16 gun brig "Miriam" [Richard Pomroy] and the schooner "Hammond" [Doty] captured two unanmed vessels from Newbury Massachusetts (a schooner and a sloop). The sloop was burned after it went aground on Goat Island. A battle took place between the vessels and
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