National Register of Historic Places

Ames Building

Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Listed
April 25, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74000382

About this property

The Ames Building is located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes ranked as the tallest building in Boston from its completion in 1889 until 1915, when the Custom House Tower was built, but the steeple of the 1867 Church of the Covenant was much taller than the Ames Building. It is nevertheless considered Boston's first skyscraper. In 2007, the building was converted from office space to a luxury hotel. In 2020, the building was purchased by Suffolk University and converted into a student residence hall.

Location

1 Court St.
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
42.35896, -71.05815

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Old State House
Industrial
0 mi
Second Brazer Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sears' Crescent and Sears' Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
Old City Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Old Corner Bookstore
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston
1775Revolutionary War
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ames Building listed on the National Register?

Ames Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 25, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Ames Building?

Ames Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ames Building?

The period of significance for Ames Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ames Building?

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