Pierce–Hichborn House facts for kids
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Pierce–Hichborn House
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Pierce–Hichborn house from the front
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| Location | 29 North Square, Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1711 |
| Architect | Moses Pierce |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000042 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
The Pierce–Hichborn House is a historic home in Boston, Massachusetts. It was built around 1711 and is a great example of early Georgian architecture. This style was popular in England and America during the 18th century.
The house is located right next to the famous Paul Revere House in North Square. Today, the Pierce–Hichborn House is a museum. It is run by the Paul Revere Memorial Association, which also takes care of the Paul Revere House. You can visit both houses to learn about life in colonial Boston!
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What Makes the Pierce–Hichborn House Special?
The Pierce–Hichborn House is three stories tall. It is made of brick, with special decorative bands called belt courses. It also has large windows that slide up and down, known as sash windows.
The house is built on a small city lot. Its narrow side faces the street. The main entrance opens onto a small private path. Inside, each floor has a narrow hallway and stairs. On each side of the hall, there is a room with a fireplace.
The house is not perfectly rectangular. One corner facing the street is very sharp. This design helped the builders use every bit of space on the small lot.
A Look at the House's History
The land where the Pierce–Hichborn House stands likely had an older building. That building was probably destroyed in a big fire in Boston in 1711. The current house was then built by Moses Pierce. He was a glazier, someone who works with glass. Moses Pierce was also the grandson of John Jeffs, who built the Paul Revere House nearby.
The neighborhood was already a busy city area back then. The Pierce–Hichborn House was just a few doors down from the Revere House.
Who Lived in the House?
Over the years, many families owned the house.
- In 1747, William Shippard bought the house.
- Then, in 1781, Nathaniel Hichborn bought it. He was a boat builder and a cousin of Paul Revere. This is where the "Hichborn" part of the house's name comes from!
- The Hutchinson family lived there until 1864.
After that, the house was used differently. It became a tenement, which is a building divided into many small apartments. It also had a store on the ground floor. This continued until the early 1940s.
Becoming a Museum
In 1941, a group called the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities bought the house. They wanted to protect old buildings. In 1949, some of Nathaniel Hichborn's family members helped raise money to fix up the house.
The house was recognized as a very important historical site. On November 24, 1968, it was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. This means it's one of the most important historic places in the United States. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1970, the Paul Revere Memorial Association took over the house. They now run it as a museum, along with the Paul Revere House. This lets visitors learn about the history of both homes and the people who lived in them.
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