Gardner–Pingree House facts for kids
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Gardner–Pingree House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Salem, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1804 |
| Architect | Samuel McIntire |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Essex Institute Historic District (#72000147) Salem Common Historic District (#76000303) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000541 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1970 |
| Designated CP | June 22, 1972 May 12, 1976 |
The Gardner–Pingree House is a beautiful old house in Salem, Massachusetts. It's like a museum you can visit! Experts say it's a perfect example of a building style called Federal architecture. A famous builder named Samuel McIntire designed it. Because it's so special, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1972. Today, the Peabody Essex Museum owns and takes care of it.
Exploring the House's Design
This house has three floors and is made of brick. It has a rectangular shape with another three-story section at the back. The bricks are laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. White marble is used for the trim around the house.
The roof has a low fence-like railing, called a balustrade, above a decorative border. Two chimneys stick up from inside the roof. There are marble bands that separate each floor. The windows on the third floor are shorter than the others. All the windows have black shutters and decorative tops with a special stone in the middle.
The main front door is covered by a curved porch. This porch is held up by four fancy columns. The doorway itself has narrow windows on the sides and a curved window above the door. Inside the house, the first floor has amazing carved wood. You can see this detailed work on the fireplace decorations, ceiling borders, and even the stairs.
A Look Back: The House's Story
The Gardner–Pingree House was built in 1804. Samuel McIntire, the famous builder, created it for John and Sarah Gardner. John Gardner bought the land from his father.
Later, John and Sarah sold the house to Sarah's brother, Nathaniel West. This happened because they lost money from shipping problems before the War of 1812. In 1814, a man named Captain Joseph White bought the house.
Then, in 1834, David Pingree became the owner. His family kept the house for many years. In 1933, Pingree's descendants gave the house to the Essex Institute. This group later joined with the Peabody Museum of Salem to form the Peabody Essex Museum.
A very famous court case happened because of events at this house in 1830. Captain Joseph White, an owner at the time, died here. The trial that followed was led by a well-known lawyer, Daniel Webster. This event even inspired famous writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
The house was also used as a filming location! In 1979, parts of the movie The Europeans were filmed here. This movie was based on a book by Henry James.
The Gardner–Pingree House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This means it's recognized as an important historical place. It's also part of two larger historic areas: the Essex Institute Historic District and the Salem Common Historic District.
See also
