Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Scarborough (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Winslow Homer Studio, Dunstan Methodist Episcopal Church, and Richard Hunniwell House. Also, be sure to include Scarborough Downs in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Scarborough (Maine).
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Winslow Homer Studio
Building. The Winslow Homer Studio is the historic studio and home of the artist Winslow Homer, which is located on what is now Winslow Homer Road on Prouts Neck in Scarborough, Maine. Maine architect John Calvin Stevens altered and expanded an existing carriage house to suit Homer's needs in 1884, even moving the building 100 feet for added privacy from his brother's neighboring summer home. The most dramatic element is a balcony the width of the building, from which the artist often painted in winter. The building is 44 by 53 feet and two stories high, for a total of 2,200 square feet. Homer lived and painted in the studio from 1884 until his death there in 1910.
The studio was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
The Portland Museum of Art acquired the building and surrounding grounds on January 31, 2006, closing both to the public during restoration projects. It was opened to the public in 2012, but may only be visited on a guided tour. The Portland Museum of Art undertook significant restoration of the building. Changes and additions made by members of the Homer family in 1938–39 were undone in order to preserve the studio as Winslow Homer left it in 1910. Some updates were also made to the property to enable it to function as a museum exhibit. The additions included plumbing and a restroom for visitors, electricity, security, and hidden steel reinforcements for the balcony (or piazza).[1]
Address: 5 Winslow Homer Rd, Scarborough
Dunstan Methodist Episcopal Church
United methodist church in Scarborough, Maine. The West Scarborough United Methodist Church, also known as the Dunstan Methodist Episcopal Church, is a historic church on U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough, Maine. The church building, built in 1839 and extensively altered in 1907, is one of the few surviving works of Maine architect and artist Harry Hayman Cochrane. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 for its architectural significance.[2]
Richard Hunniwell House
Historical landmark in Scarborough, Maine. The Hunnewell House is one of the oldest surviving structures in the United States state of Maine. Located on Old County Road near Black Point Road in Scarborough, Maine, this modest single-story building was probably built in 1702-03 by Richard Hunnewell, who had first settled Scarborough in 1684. Although, the exact year of construction is in doubt, with some accounts listing it as 1673. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It is now owned and maintained by the town.[3]
Scarborough Downs
Racecourse in Scarborough, Maine. Scarborough Downs was a horse-racing track located in Scarborough, Maine, United States. It was Maine's largest race track. It was home to The Downs Club restaurant as well as a grandstand for race viewing, and includes 2 track-side lounges as well as a VIP Room. It held its final races on November 30, 2020.
Scarborough Downs was constructed in 1949 as a racetrack for thoroughbred horse races and was completed in 1950. It was the only one of its kind in the state. However, harness racing was introduced in the 1960s and for a while the track hosted both types of horse racing. However, in September 1972 the track became solely a harness racing track. In the 2000s, owner Joseph Ricci, also known for being one of the founders of the infamous Élan School, introduced simulcast wagering and the track began to offer simulcast races from premier thoroughbred and harness tracks from around North America.
On October 1, 1980, a pre-dawn fire at Scarborough Downs, ignited as the result of an overloaded electrical box in a tack room, destroyed a 240-foot barn, killing eleven horses. The track hosted its final race ever on November 28, 2020, due to an agreement with developer Mike Cianchette, great-nephew of former Bangor and Lewiston Track Owner Bud Cianchette. The racing meet will move to Cumberland Fairgrounds which has held long meets before with the expectation it will be full-time horse racing in 2022. The 2021 season at Cumberland will be 64 days long total including 2021 fair First Tracks LLC got state approval and a license on February 8, 2021.
MaineHealth has been using the facility as a COVID-19 vaccine distribution site since February 2021.[4]
Address: 90 Payne Rd, 04074 Scarborough