Wentworth Lear Historic Houses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wentworth-Gardner and Tobias Lear Houses
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Tobias Lear House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 50 Mechanic Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
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| Built | 1760 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000319 |
| Added to NRHP | October 30, 1979 |
The Wentworth Lear Historic Houses are two old homes located next to each other in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. These houses are found on the south waterfront, at the corner of Mechanic and Gardner Streets. They were built around 1750–1760.
These two houses show different styles of Georgian architecture. The Wentworth-Gardner House is a very fancy example. The other, the Tobias Lear House, is simpler. The Wentworth-Gardner House is a special place called a National Historic Landmark. Both houses are listed together on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, only the Wentworth-Gardner House is open as a museum.
Contents
The Tobias Lear House
The Tobias Lear House is a wooden house with two and a half stories. It was built around 1750. The house has a sloped roof and chimneys inside. Its front has three sections, with the main door in the middle. This door has columns on the sides and a triangle shape above it. The house has simple wooden decorations both inside and out.
Who Was Tobias Lear?
The house was built by a man named Tobias Lear, who was a merchant and ship captain. His son, also named Tobias Lear, became very famous. He was the private secretary to President George Washington. In 1789, George Washington even visited this house when he came to Portsmouth!
The Lear family sold the house in 1861. Later, in 1917, a person who worked to save old buildings, Wallace Nutting, bought it. It was then owned by a group called Historic New England. In 1940, they gave it to its current owners. In 2021, the Lear House was sold to a private owner and is now used as an Airbnb.
The Wentworth-Gardner House
Unlike the simpler Lear House, the Wentworth-Gardner House shows off a very fancy Georgian style. It is also important because of its role in saving old buildings. This two-and-a-half-story wooden house was built in 1760. Mark Hunking Wentworth, a very rich merchant, built it as a wedding gift for his son, Thomas.
Design and Features
The front of the house looks like it's made of stone, even though it's wood. The sides and back are made of regular wooden boards. The front has five sections, with the main door in the middle. This door has a special frame added during a restoration in 1916–1918. The house has a sloped roof with decorative molding. There are three windows on the roof on both the front and back. The middle roof window has a rounded top, while the others have triangle 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 and worked to restore it. In 1918, he sold it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum thought about moving the house to New York City to display it. However, they decided it was better to keep the house in its original spot. The house was managed by Historic New England until 1940. In 1968, the Wentworth-Gardner House was named a National Historic Landmark.
Visiting the Museum
The Wentworth-Gardner Mansion is open for tours from June to October. You can visit Thursday through Monday. There is an admission fee, which includes a tour of the mansion and an old 18th-century warehouse. The museum is also a popular spot for wedding and special occasion photos.
See also
