The Wedding Cake House Kennebunk: What You Might Not Know About Maine's Most Photographed Home

It sits right there on Summer Street, practically screaming for attention. If you’ve ever driven through Kennebunk, Maine, you’ve seen it. You probably slowed down. Maybe you even pulled over to snap a photo of those white, lace-like wooden spires that look more like a confectioner’s fever dream than a 19th-century residence. The Wedding Cake House Kennebunk is a local legend, a national landmark, and, honestly, a bit of an architectural mystery that people get wrong all the time.

Most folks think they know the story. They've heard the romantic tale of a sea captain who built the "frosting" to appease his bride because they were forced to sea before they could enjoy their wedding cake.

It's a great story. It's also totally fake.

Real history is usually a lot weirder and more interesting than the myths we invent to explain things we don't understand. The house wasn't a romantic apology; it was a defiant response to a massive fire and a very specific mid-Victorian obsession with the Gothic Revival style.

The Myth vs. The Reality of George W. Bourne

Let's talk about George Washington Bourne. He’s the man responsible for the "cake." Bourne was a shipbuilder, which explains a lot about the precision of the woodwork you see today. In 1825, he built a fairly standard, high-quality Federal-style brick house. It looked like plenty of other wealthy merchant homes in New England—sturdy, symmetrical, and decidedly not covered in wooden lace.

Then came the fire of 1852.

A massive blaze swept through the property, destroying the barn and the outbuildings. When Bourne went to rebuild, he didn't just want to replace what was lost. He was inspired. He had been traveling in Europe and had seen the intricate, soaring cathedrals of the Gothic era. He decided his farm needed that same energy.

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He spent years—literally years—hand-carving the buttresses, the pinnacles, and the intricate trim. He connected the house to the new carriage house with a covered walkway that looks like a cathedral cloister. The result is what architects call "Carpenter Gothic." It’s basically what happens when a master shipbuilder has too much time, incredible talent, and a copy of a design book by Andrew Jackson Downing.

So, the "wedding cake" part? That name didn't even exist when Bourne was alive. Neighbors just thought he was a bit eccentric. The nickname came much later, likely as a way to boost tourism once Kennebunk became a summer destination for the elite.

Why the Architecture Actually Matters

You’ll notice that the Gothic trim isn’t actually part of the house’s structure. It’s an appliqué. If you stripped away all that white woodwork, you’d be left with a very plain, rectangular brick box.

This is what makes the Wedding Cake House Kennebunk so fascinating to historians. It represents a specific moment in American history where the Industrial Revolution was starting to take off, but hand-craftsmanship was still the gold standard. Bourne used his shipbuilding tools—augers, chisels, and saws—to mimic stone masonry.

• The Pinnacles: There are dozens of them, reaching toward the sky.
• The Crockets: Those little bud-like decorations on the edges of the spires.
• The Pointed Arches: These are classic Gothic elements intended to draw the eye upward.

It’s a bit like someone taking a classic tuxedo and sewing thousands of pearls onto it. It shouldn't work. By all accounts of "good taste," it’s over the top. Yet, it’s undeniably beautiful.

It’s a Private Residence, Not a Museum

This is the part that catches people off guard. You can’t just walk in.

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For decades, the house was owned by the Hunt family. Mary Hunt was a local fixture, and while she was generous with the community, the house remained a private home. In recent years, it changed hands, and the current owners have been tasked with the monumental job of keeping it standing.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to maintain 150-year-old carved wood in Maine?

The salt air, the humidity, and the brutal winters are constantly trying to rot those delicate spires. Maintenance isn't just a weekend project; it's a full-time financial commitment. This is why you’ll often see scaffolding or sections of the trim looking a bit weathered. It’s a living artifact, not a plastic replica.

The Kennebunk Tourism Impact

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport are often lumped together, but they have different vibes. Kennebunkport is the "port"—beaches, shops, the Bush compound at Walker’s Point. Kennebunk is the "village," and the Wedding Cake House Kennebunk is the anchor of its historic district.

When you visit, don't just stop at the house. The entire stretch of Summer Street (Route 35) is a masterclass in 19th-century architecture. You have:

1. The Taylor-Barry House (classic Federal style).
2. The Storer Mansion (where Lafayette stayed).
3. Scores of massive elms that survived the Dutch Elm disease of the mid-20th century.

Honestly, the best way to see it is to park your car near the Brick Store Museum and walk down. It’s about a mile. You’ll get a much better sense of the scale of Bourne's ambition when you're standing on the sidewalk looking up at those wooden spires.

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Addressing the "Haunted" Rumors

Whenever you have a house that looks this unique, people start whispering about ghosts. There are local "ghost tours" that claim the bride who never got her cake still wanders the halls.

Let's be real: there is zero historical evidence for this.

The Bournes lived a relatively successful, if busy, life. If there are any spirits there, they’re probably just frustrated woodworkers wondering why the modern paint isn't holding up as well as the lead-based stuff they used in 1855.

How to Respectfully Visit the Site

Because the Wedding Cake House Kennebunk is a private home, there are some "unspoken rules" you should follow. You don't want to be that tourist.

• Stay on the sidewalk. The lawn is private property. The owners have been known to be friendly, but they also value their privacy.
• Don't block traffic. Summer Street is a busy road. Don't just stop your car in the middle of the lane. There is a small turnout nearby, or better yet, park on a side street.
• Visit during "Golden Hour." If you’re a photographer, the sun hits the front of the house in the late afternoon. The shadows created by the Gothic trim are incredible during this time.
• Check for local events. Occasionally, the grounds are opened for charity events or garden tours. Keep an eye on the Brick Store Museum’s calendar for these rare opportunities.

What's Next for the House?

The future of the Wedding Cake House Kennebunk is always a topic of conversation in town. Preservation is expensive. There have been talks over the years about turning it into an inn or a more formal museum, but for now, it remains a cherished private landmark.

The most important thing for any visitor to understand is that this house is a labor of love. George Bourne didn't build it for us; he built it for himself, as a creative outlet after a devastating loss. That he created something that still stops people in their tracks 170 years later is a testament to the power of a singular, slightly obsessive vision.

Actionable Insights for Your Visit

1. Skip the myths: When you tell your friends about the house, tell them about George Bourne the shipbuilder, not the fake wedding cake story. The truth is more impressive.
2. The Brick Store Museum: Start your trip here. It's just up the road and houses actual artifacts and documents related to the Bourne family. It provides the context the house deserves.
3. Check the Trim: Look closely at the "lace" work. Notice how it repeats. Bourne used templates, which was a very modern way of thinking about construction at the time.
4. Walk the Neighborhood: Don't just do a "drive-by." The architectural diversity on Summer Street is some of the best in New England. Use a self-guided walking tour app or map from the local historical society.

The Wedding Cake House isn't just a photo op. It's a piece of Maine's soul, a bit of grit and wood-carved determination standing tall against the Atlantic breeze. Take the time to look past the "frosting."