Gibson House Museum facts for kids
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Gibson House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the Gibson House Museum on Beacon Street
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 Location in Boston
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1859–60 |
| Part of | Back Bay Historic District (ID73001948) |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001048 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 07, 2001 |
| Designated NHL | August 7, 2001 |
| Designated CP | August 14, 1973 |
The Gibson House Museum is a special old house in Boston, Massachusetts. It's located at 137 Beacon Street in the Back Bay area. This house was built in 1860 and was home to three generations of the Gibson family.
It's one of the first houses built in the Back Bay. What makes it so unique is how well-preserved it is. You can still see the original wallpaper, fabrics, furniture, and family items. Both the fancy public rooms and the service areas (like the kitchen) look almost exactly as they did long ago. You can explore them on tours. The house became a special Boston Landmark in 1992. Later, in 2001, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's very important to the history of the United States.
Contents
The Gibson House Story
How the House Began
In 1859, a woman named Catherine Hammond Gibson bought the land for $3,696. She was a widow and wanted to move from Beacon Hill. The land was newly filled in, as the Back Bay area used to be water.
Edward Clarke Cabot designed the house. It was finished by 1860. The house was built in the Italian Renaissance style. It has a beautiful exterior made of brownstone and red brick. Catherine later passed the house on to her son, Charles Hammond Gibson.
Life in the House
Charles married Rosamond Warren in 1871. They lived together at 137 Beacon Street. Rosamond came from a very important Boston family. After Catherine passed away in 1888, Rosamond redecorated the house. She added beautiful Japanese wallpapers.
Becoming a Museum
Catherine Hammond Gibson's grandson, Charles Hammond Gibson Jr., lived in the house until he passed away in 1954. After his death, the house became a museum in 1957. In 2001, it was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
The Gibson House is special because it's one of the only Victorian houses in Boston's Back Bay that still looks the same inside and out. It has kept its original design and decorations. The furniture and items inside are a mix of what the family owned and pieces added to make it feel complete.
Visiting the Museum
The Gibson House Museum offers tours for the public. They also host special events like talks and gatherings.
In 2013, a theater group called Simple Machine Theatre put on a play. It was called "The Turn of the Screw." They performed it on the museum's Grand Staircase and front hall. The audience sat in the entrance area.
Charles Hammond Gibson Jr. was known for hosting fun parties. To remember this, the museum has an annual celebration. It's called the Repeal Day Celebration fundraiser. This event celebrates the end of a time in history called Prohibition.
The Gibson House in Movies
The Gibson House Museum has been a filming location for several movies.
- The 1984 Merchant/Ivory film The Bostonians filmed scenes here. They used Rosamond Warren Gibson's bedroom. They also filmed in the red study and on the grand staircase landing.
- In 2018, a promotional film for Boston Ballet's production of The Nutcracker was filmed at the museum. Scenes with Clara were shot in the Music Room and on the Grand Staircase.
- Also in 2018, director Greta Gerwig filmed scenes for her movie Little Women here. The museum was used as the boarding house where Jo March lived. The museum library was shown as Jo March's publisher's office. [1]
See also
