Wedding Cake House

Frosted in Wood

The Wedding Cake House stands on Summer Street (Route 35) in Kennebunk, a yellow two-story Federal-style home encrusted with white Gothic Revival woodwork so elaborate that it looks like someone frosted a building. The nickname is inevitable. Every pointed arch, every lacy bracket, every carved pinnacle on the facade suggests the work of an ambitious pastry chef rather than a carpenter. It is the most photographed house in Maine and one of the most recognizable examples of Carpenter Gothic architecture in the country.

George W. Bourne, a fourth-generation shipbuilder, built the original Federal-style house in 1825. The Gothic trim came later. After touring Europe and seeing the Cathedral of Milan, Bourne spent years adding the ornamental woodwork to the house, the barn, and the carriage house. He used the skills and tools of his shipbuilding trade to carve the intricate buttresses, pinnacles, and tracery that cover the exterior. The result is a building that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale but sits on a quiet residential street in southern Maine.

What to See

The Wedding Cake House is a private residence, so visits are limited to viewing from the road and sidewalk. The exterior is the attraction, and it delivers. The front facade faces Summer Street with a broad lawn in front, providing a clear sightline for photographs.

The woodwork covers nearly every surface. Pointed Gothic arches frame the windows. Buttresses rise from the corners. The roofline bristles with pinnacles and finials. The barn and carriage house received the same treatment, creating a unified compound of Gothic extravagance.

The house is painted yellow with white trim, which emphasizes the lacy quality of the woodwork. On a sunny day, the shadows cast by the carved elements add depth and texture that photographs capture well. Overcast light is also good, as it softens the contrast and reveals more detail in the carving.

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has appeared in architecture books, travel magazines, and photography collections for over a century. Tour buses from Kennebunkport cruise ships regularly slow down on Summer Street so passengers can snap photos.

History

George W. Bourne came from a prominent Kennebunk shipbuilding family. The main house was built in 1825 as a straightforward Federal-style home, typical of prosperous New England families of the era. The Gothic additions came over a period of years, reportedly inspired by Bourne’s admiration for European Gothic cathedrals.

The style is classified as Carpenter Gothic, a distinctly American adaptation of Gothic Revival architecture executed in wood rather than stone. While stone Gothic churches and public buildings were common in 19th-century America, applying the style to a residential property in wood was unusual and labor-intensive. Bourne’s shipbuilding skills made the detailed carvings possible.

The house has changed hands several times. Recent owners have undertaken restoration work on the deteriorating woodwork. In 2024, the property was listed for sale at $2.65 million, reflecting both its historic significance and the ongoing maintenance demands of the ornamental exterior.

When to Visit

The house looks good in every season. Summer provides the most vibrant setting with green lawns and gardens. Fall foliage adds warm tones to the background. Winter snow against the yellow and white exterior is dramatic. For photography, soft morning or late afternoon light shows the woodwork detail best.

Practical Notes

There are no fees. The house is viewable from the public road at any time. Parking is along the road shoulder. There are no restrooms or facilities at the site. The visit takes about 15 minutes for photographs.

The house is located at 104 Summer Street (Route 35) in Kennebunk. It is easy to find and well known locally. GPS will get you there without trouble.

Getting There

The Wedding Cake House is at 104 Summer Street (Route 35) in Kennebunk, Maine 04043. Summer Street is the main road connecting Kennebunk village to Kennebunkport, so the house is easy to reach from either direction.

From the Maine Turnpike (I-95), take Exit 25 in Kennebunk and follow Route 35 south through Kennebunk village. Stay on Route 35 (Summer Street) as it heads toward Kennebunkport, and the house will appear on the right with a broad lawn fronting the street. The drive from the interstate takes about five minutes.

From Portland, take I-95 South to Exit 25, about 35 minutes total. From the center of Kennebunkport, follow Route 9 (Main Street) across the Kennebunk River, which connects to Summer Street and leads directly past the house.

Parking is along the road shoulder, and a small pullout on the right side of Summer Street, almost directly opposite the house, is a popular photo stop. There are no restrooms or facilities at the site, and the property is a private residence, so view from the road and sidewalk only. GPS coordinates are 43.3900, -70.5450.

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