The Bliss Carman House was the childhood home of famous poet William Bliss Carman (1861–1929). Better known as Bliss Carman, he was one of the most widely known poets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is considered one of the "Confederation Poets" that helped define early Canadian poetry, something shared with his cousin Sir Charles G. D. Roberts. Through his mother, Sophia (Bliss) Carman, Carman was also related to the acclaimed English poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. While he lived in the United States for most of his adult life, his childhood was spent in his native Fredericton. He authored much of his early work in this house and was a student at Collegiate School and the University of New Brunswick.
 
Bliss' father, William Carman, had moved to Fredericton after his time representing Northumberland County in the House of Assembly from 1846–1851. Mr. Carman acquired this home in the 1860s and remained there until his passing in 1885. By this time, he was the oldest barrister in New Brunswick, having been one since 1828. The senior Carman had also been appointed Clerk of the Common Pleas for York County and Registrar of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick. The house was later purchased by Frederick St. John Bliss, Bliss Carman's cousin, in the 1900s. It then remained in the Carman family until 1965.
 
Outside of its occupants, the house is notable for its unusual orientation. The simple back façade overlooks Shore Street, while the elaborate front façade faces the back. This is because the house was actually built before the street was. When the house was constructed in 1840, its builder, Colonel George Shore, anticipated that the street would be located by the house's front. However, during development, the planned location of the street was changed so that the back of the house faced the street rather than the front. This gives the building a distinctive appearance, but unfortunately hides the beautiful front façade from sight.