Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Biddeford (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Wood Island Light, City Theater, and Saint Joseph's Church. Also, be sure to include St. Andre's Parish in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Biddeford (Maine).
Table of Contents
Wood Island Light
Lighthouse in Biddeford, Maine. Wood Island Light is an active lighthouse on the eastern edge of Wood Island in Saco Bay, on the southern coast of Maine. The light is just outside the entrance to Biddeford Pool and the end of the Saco River. The lighthouse is a 47-foot conical white tower of granite rubble. The light itself sits 71 feet above mean high water. Its automated beacon alternates between green and white every 10 seconds.
Wood Island Light is Maine's second-oldest lighthouse (after Portland Head Light) and the nation's eleventh-oldest. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Wood Island Light Station on January 21, 1988, reference number 87002274.
The United States Coast Guard maintains the active beacon of the lighthouse, while The Friends of Wood Island Light, a non-profit organization, has assisted the Coast Guard by maintaining and restoring parts of the lighthouse and keepers dwellings.[1]
Address: Wood Island Acres, 04005 Biddeford
City Theater
Performing arts theater in Biddeford, Maine. Biddeford City Theater is a restored Victorian opera house at 205 Main Street in Biddeford, Maine, United States. City Theater produces and hosts theater, dance and music performances year-round and aims to, “foster an appreciation for the performing arts by using creative avenues to increase community involvement.”
City Theater is part of the Biddeford City Hall complex, designed by Maine architect John Calvin Stevens in 1895. The building is included on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a contributing element to the Biddeford Main Street Historic District.[2]
Address: 205 Main St, 04005-2414 Biddeford
Saint Joseph's Church
Saint Joseph's Church is one of the 5 churches of Good Shepherd Parish located at 178 Elm Street in Biddeford, Maine, and is the tallest building in Maine.[3]
Address: 178 Elm St, 04005 Biddeford
St. Andre's Parish
Building in Biddeford. St. Andre's Parish is a former parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, located on Bacon and Sullivan Streets in Biddeford, Maine, USA. The parish was founded in 1860 to serve the city's large French-Canadian and French-American communities. On July 1, 2008, St. Andres was merged into the newly formed Good Shepherd Parish. The parish complex of four buildings, including the church, rectory, convent and school, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, at which time most of it stood vacant.[4]
First Parish Meetinghouse
Building in Biddeford, Maine. The First Parish Meetinghouse is a historic colonial meeting house at Meeting House Road and Old Pool Road in Biddeford, Maine. Built in 1758, it is the oldest public building in the city, and is one of the oldest buildings of its type in the state. It served as a combined church and town hall until about 1840. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is now owned by the Biddeford Historical Society.[5]
McArthur Public Library
Public library in Biddeford, Maine. McArthur Public Library is a public library in Biddeford, Maine. It opened in October 1863 as a department within Biddeford City Hall, and has been in its current location since 1902. It is one of the oldest tax-supported libraries in New England, and the oldest in the state of Maine.[6]
Address: 270 Main St, 04005 Biddeford
Old Post Office
The Old Post Office is a historic former post office building at 35 Washington Street in Biddeford, Maine. Built in 1914, it is a fine local example of Classical Revival architecture, and a prototype for post offices built in the following decades. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It now houses commercial offices.[7]
John Tarr House
The John Tarr House is an historic house at 29 Ferry Lane in Biddeford, Maine. Built about 1730, it is one of the oldest houses in the state of Maine, with a well-preserved interior that has unusual features. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[8]
Dudley Block
The Dudley Block is a historic mixed-use commercial and residential building in at 28-34 Water Street in downtown Biddeford, Maine. Built in 1848, it is one of the older buildings in the downtown area, and is a fine example of Greek Revival commercial architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and was included in the Biddeford Main Street Historic District in 2009.[9]
Timber Point
Timber Point is a historic summer estate in Biddeford, Maine. Located at the city's southernmost tip, and now part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the property was developed in the 1930s by architect Charles Ewing for his family. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.[10]
James Montgomery Flagg House
Building in Biddeford, Maine. The James Montgomery Flagg House is an historic house in the Biddeford Pool area of Biddeford, York County, Maine. It was built in 1910 as the summer home of James Montgomery Flagg, a New York-based artist and illustrator known for political cartoons and the iconic World War I recruiting poster depicting Uncle Sam. The house is decorated with murals painted by Flagg, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2013, its owner, citing the building's deteriorated condition, received approval to demolish and rebuild the house, preserving Flagg's murals.[11]