National Historic Landmark

Old South Church in Boston

Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Listed
December 29, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000690

About this property

Old South Church (also known as New Old South Church or Third Church), is a historic United Church of Christ congregation in Boston, Massachusetts, first organized in 1669. Its present building at 645 Boylston Street in Copley Square, built on newly filled land in the Back Bay section of Boston, was completed in 1873. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style by Charles Amos Cummings and Willard T. Sears, while the campanile was designed by the architects Allen & Collens and added between 1935 and 1937. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 for its architectural significance as one of the finest High Victorian Gothic churches in New England. It is home to one of the oldest religious communities in the United States.

Location

645 Boylston St.
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
42.35017, -71.07806

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
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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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
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Boston Public Library
Industrial
0 mi
YWCA Boston
Industrial
0.1 mi
Trinity Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
First Baptist Church
Colonial
0.1 mi
Trinity Rectory
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston
1775Revolutionary War
1.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old South Church in Boston listed on the National Register?

Old South Church in Boston was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Old South Church in Boston?

Old South Church in Boston is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Old South Church in Boston a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Old South Church in Boston has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Old South Church in Boston?

The period of significance for Old South Church in Boston is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old South Church in Boston?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old South Church in Boston will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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