Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4 Historic Houses
The home in Boston imbued with the most history is the Paul Revere House (p. 155).
A visit brings the legendary revolutionary to life. For information on the Longfellow
National Historic Site, see p. 164.
On Beacon Hill, you'll find houses that are as interesting for their architecture as
for their occupants. The south slope, facing Boston Common, has been a fashionable
address since the 1620s; excellent tours of two houses (one on the north slope) focus
on the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The architect of the homes was Charles
Bulfinch; he also designed the State House, which sits at the hill's summit.
Historic New England (formerly the Society for the Preservation of New England
Antiquities) owns and operates the Otis House Museum (see below) and dozens of
other historic properties throughout New England. Contact the organization ( & 617/
227-3956; www.historicnewengland.org) for information on its properties, visiting
hours, and admission fees.
Gibson House Museum The Gibson House is an 1859 brownstone that embod-
ies the word “Victorian.” Forget you've ever heard the phrase “less is more”—the
ornate furnishings and abundant accessories permit a compelling look at the domes-
tic life of a socially prominent family in the then-new Back Bay neighborhood. You'll
see decorations of all kinds, including family photos and portraits, petrified-wood hat
racks, a sequined red-velvet pagoda for the cat, a Victrola, and an original icebox.
Check ahead for the schedule of lectures and other special events.
137 Beacon St. & 617/267-6338. www.thegibsonhouse.org. Admission $7. Tours on the hour Wed-Sun 1-3pm.
Closed Jan 1, July 4, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25. T: Green Line to Arlington.
John F. Kennedy National Historic Site The 35th president's birthplace is a
modest 1909 house in a quiet residential neighborhood. The president's mother, Rose
Fitzgerald Kennedy, collected many of the items on display and helped with the
restoration; the current configuration is her recollection of the house's appearance
around 1917, when “Jack,” her second child, was born. The tour, led by a National
Park Service ranger, discusses domestic life of the period and the roots of the Kennedy
family. If you miss the last guided tour, ask about the self-guided option, which is
available in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. One-hour walking tours
of the neighborhood take place several times each weekend.
83 Beals St., Brookline. & 617/566-7937. www.nps.gov/jofi. Tours $3 adults, free for children under 18. May-early
Oct Wed-Sun 10am-4:30pm. Tours every 30 min. 10am-3:30pm. Call ahead to double-check hours and tour sched-
ules, especially early and late in the season. Closed mid-Oct to Apr. T: Green Line C to Coolidge Corner, then walk 4
blocks north on Harvard St. and turn right.
Nichols House Museum A stroll around Beacon Hill leaves many visitors pin-
ing to know what the stately homes look like inside. This is one of the only places to
satisfy that curiosity. The 1804 home holds beautiful antique furnishings, art, carpets,
and tapestries collected by several generations of the Nichols family. Its most promi-
nent occupant, Rose Standish Nichols, was a suffragist and a pioneering landscape
designer. Her legacy includes not just family heirlooms but objects she brought back
from her many travels to the thoroughfare Henry James (who lived at no. 131) reput-
edly called “the only respectable street in America.”
55 Mount Vernon St. & 617/227-6993. www.nicholshousemuseum.org. Admission $7. Apr-Oct Tues-Sat noon-
4pm; Nov-Mar Thurs-Sat noon-4pm; tours every 30 min. T: Red or Green Line to Park St.
 
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