National Historic Landmark

Sears, David, House

Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Listed
December 29, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000731

About this property

The David Sears House is a historic house located along Beacon Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The three-story house was built in several stages between 1816 and 1875. Now a National Historic Landmark, it was one of the first houses built of granite in the city, and was designed by Alexander Parris for David Sears, a prominent merchant, philanthropist, and landowner. The carved granite panels that adorn the facade were carved by Solomon Willard. The original 1816 house was a two-story L-shaped structure with a hip roof, with a facade that was seven bays wide. In c. 1824 Sears had the building nearly doubled in size, adding three bays to the facade, and moving the front door to its present location. In 1875, after the building was acquired by the Somerset Club, the third floor was added, changing the roof from a hip to a gable. This work also included renovations to the interior of the first two floors. The building was again enlarged to the rear in 1900, adding additional space for servants. The house is still owned by Somerset Club, and is not open to the general public. It was designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Location

42 Beacon St.
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
42.35718, -71.06673

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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Native Heritage
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Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston
1775Revolutionary War
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Sears, David, House listed on the National Register?

Sears, David, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Sears, David, House?

Sears, David, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Sears, David, House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Sears, David, House 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 Sears, David, House?

The period of significance for Sears, David, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Sears, David, House?

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