Wentworth Lear Historic Houses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Wentworth-Gardner and Tobias Lear Houses
|
|
Tobias Lear House
|
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 50 Mechanic Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Built | 1760 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000319 |
| Added to NRHP | October 30, 1979 |
The Wentworth Lear Historic Houses are two old, important houses located next to each other in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They are found right on the waterfront, where ships used to come and go. These houses were built around 1750 to 1760. They show two very different styles of Georgian architecture from that time.
One of the houses, the Wentworth-Gardner House, is a very special place. It is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Both houses together are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important parts of American history. Today, only the Wentworth-Gardner House is open as a museum for visitors.
Contents
Discover the Tobias Lear House
The Tobias Lear House is a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It was built around 1750. The outside has flat wooden boards called clapboards. It has a sloped roof with special windows called dormers. These dormers have small triangular tops. The house also has chimneys inside.
The front of the house has three sections. The main door is in the middle. It has decorative columns on each side and a triangular shape above it. The house has simple wooden details both inside and out.
Who Lived Here?
This house was built by a man named Tobias Lear. He was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He was also a ship's captain.
His son, also named Tobias Lear, became very famous. He was the private secretary to President George Washington. In 1789, President Washington even visited this house in Portsmouth!
The Lear family sold the house in 1861. Later, in 1917, a person who worked to save old buildings, Wallace Nutting, bought it. The house was then owned by a group that preserves old places. In 2021, the Lear House was sold to a private owner. It is now used as a place for people to rent and stay.
Explore the Wentworth-Gardner House
The Wentworth-Gardner House is very different from the Lear House. It shows a fancy style of Georgian architecture. It is also important because of how it helped start the movement to save old buildings.
This two-and-a-half-story wooden house was built in 1760. It was a wedding gift from Mark Hunking Wentworth to his son Thomas. Mark Hunking Wentworth was one of the richest people in New Hampshire at the time.
What Makes It Special?
The front of the house has flat boards that make it look like it's made of stone. The sides and back are made of clapboards. The front has five sections, with the main door in the middle. The door has decorations added during a restoration in 1916-1918.
The house has a sloped roof with decorative molding. There are three dormer windows on the front and back. The middle dormer has a rounded top. The other two have triangular tops. Inside, the house has beautiful wooden decorations, especially in the main hall and public rooms.
Saving History
Wallace Nutting bought this house in 1916. He worked to restore it to its original beauty. In 1918, he sold it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This museum thought about moving the house to New York City to display it. But they decided it was better to keep it in its original spot.
A preservation group managed the house until 1940. Then, it was given to its current owners. In 1968, the house was named a National Historic Landmark.
Visiting the Museum
The Wentworth-Gardner Mansion is open for tours. You can visit from June to October, Thursday through Monday. There is an admission fee to enter. This fee includes a tour of the mansion and an old warehouse from the 1700s. The museum is also a popular spot for wedding and special occasion photos.
See also
