Eustis Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Eustis Estate Historic District
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Location | 1424 Canton Avenue, Milton, Massachusetts |
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Area | 110 acres (45 ha) |
Architect | William Ralph Emerson and others |
Architectural style | Late Victorian |
NRHP reference No. | 16000099 |
Added to NRHP | March 22, 2016 |
The Eustis Estate is a beautiful old family home located in Milton, Massachusetts. At its heart is a grand mansion built for William Ellery Channing Eustis. This unique stone house was designed by a famous architect named William Ralph Emerson and finished in 1878.
The estate also includes other buildings. These are houses where other Eustis family members lived. There's also a gatehouse and a stable that were part of the main estate. In 2016, the entire estate was recognized as a historic district. This means it's a special place with important history. Most of the original estate is now owned by Historic New England. It opened to the public as a museum in 2017.
Contents
Discovering the Eustis Estate's History
The Eustis Estate covers about 110 acres of land in Milton. It's next to the Blue Hills Reservation, a large park. About 80 acres of the estate are protected. This means they are kept natural and can't be built on.
The estate has a few different buildings. Close to the main road, Canton Avenue, there are two houses. One is a newer house from the 1950s. The other is an older wooden house. It was built in Hyde Park in the 1890s. Then, it was moved to this spot in 1910.
Across the street, you'll find a stable and a gatehouse. Both are made from rough stone. William Ellery Channing Eustis designed these buildings. They were built in the late 1800s. The stable is now a private home.
The Grand Mansion: A Look Inside
The main house is set far back from the road. You reach it by a driveway near the gatehouse. It's a three-story building made of stone. It mixes different popular styles from the late 1800s. The house uses local stone. It also has red and yellow bricks for decoration. The roof is made of red tiles.
There's a special covered entrance for carriages called a porte-cochere. It has rounded arches, like old Roman buildings. The house also has many gables and parts that stick out. These are common in the Queen Anne style of architecture. Six chimneys rise from the roof. They have colorful bands of brick. The house was built in 1878. It was designed by William Ralph Emerson, an architect from Milton.
Who Lived at the Estate?
The Eustis Estate began in 1878. It was developed by William Ellery Channing Eustis. His family had owned land in the area for a long time. He also got more land through his wife, Edith Hemenway. Her family was very wealthy from trading goods.
The Eustis family lived in the house for many years. In 2012, they sold it to Historic New England. This group works to save old buildings and places in the region. Historic New England also bought the Frederick Lothrop II House.
What Can You Do at the Eustis Estate Today?
Today, the Eustis Estate is a museum. You can visit and see amazing artwork. This art is part of Historic New England's collection. The house can also be rented for special events, like weddings. In 2021, a cool sculpture exhibit was set up on the grounds. This was done with the New England Sculptors Association.