The Dunvegan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Dunvegan
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1654 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | W.M. Bacon |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| MPS | Cambridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001279 |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1986 |
The Dunvegan is a really old and cool apartment building in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1898. This building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's an important part of history!
Contents
Discovering The Dunvegan
The Dunvegan is a historic apartment building. It was built in 1898. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This register lists places important to American history.
What's in a Name?
The name "Dunvegan" comes from a famous castle in Scotland. This castle is called Dunvegan Castle. You can even see the castle's family symbol in the apartment's stained glass windows! This was mentioned in a special book from 1899.
The Dunvegan is connected to another apartment building nearby. This other building is called The Montrose. The two buildings are very close, only 25 feet apart. They even have an underground tunnel connecting them! Both buildings are six stories tall. They are also made from the same materials. They look very similar on the outside. But The Montrose is shaped like a rectangle. The Dunvegan has a unique triangular shape.
A Look Inside
When you step inside The Dunvegan, you see beautiful materials. The entrance areas and main staircase are made with fancy Siena marble. There is also rich mahogany wood. The floors have colorful mosaic patterns.
When it was first built, each of the twelve main apartments was very large. They had ten rooms and a bathroom. These rooms included:
- a living room (parlor)
- a reception room
- a library
- a dining room
- four bedrooms
- a kitchen
- a servant's room
- a bathroom
- a servant's toilet
- a butler's pantry (a small room for preparing food)
The building also had twelve smaller apartments. These were called "bachelor suites." Each of these had two rooms and a bathroom.
Life in the Early Days
The Dunvegan was very modern for its time. It had many new features. It was set up for doorbells and electric lights. This was a big deal back then! It also had pipes for both gas and running water. You could get hot and cold water. The building was heated using a low-pressure steam system.
The Dunvegan Today
In the 1930s, the apartments were changed. The very large suites were divided. They became smaller one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Today, a company called Best Choice Apartments Shortill Realty helps manage the buildings. Their office is on the first floor of The Montrose. The buildings have been kept in great condition. Many of their original, beautiful details are still there!
