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Best
History Lesson!
Yankee Magazine's Best of New England Editor's Choice Winner -- 2011 |
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The William Hickling Prescott House, at 55 Beacon
Street, pictured above on the left side, and the adjoining home at 54
Beacon Street, were built in 1808 for the Boston merchant, James Smith
Colburn. These Federal period twin houses overlook Boston Common.
The land was once owned by John Singleton Copley, America's most
accomplished colonial portrait painter.
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These 5 1/2 story brick town houses were designed by the esteemed American
architect Asher Benjamin and are highlighted by two bow-fronts.
Gracious geometric forms such as these accentuate the rhythm of the
exterior design as well as create beautiful oval interior spaces. The
building's Federal style features include a ground floor colonnade with
delicate fluted Doric columns, elliptical fanlighted entrances with
flanking side lights, colossal pilasters, elaborate iron balconies, and an
ornamental balustrade over the cornice.
The American historian,
William Hickling Prescott, lived at number 55 Beacon Street from
1845-1859. Prescott was one of the first English-speaking
historians to write about the Spanish Empire. His books
included histories of the Spanish monarchs and the conquests of
Mexico and Peru. Some have been translated into several
languages and remain in print today. |
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William Hickling Prescott
Reproduced from the Dictionary
of
American Portraits, published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 1967 |
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Prescott made major renovations to the
house.
He built a rear addition, which included his extensive
library on the second floor, and a third floor study, now faithfully
restored, where he wrote his History of the Conquest of Peru andPhilip II. |
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Prescott's Study |
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After Prescott died in 1859, his widow continued to live
in the house until her death in 1869, when it was purchased by her nephew,
Franklin Gordon Dexter. The Dexter family replaced the original spiral
staircase with the present colonial revival staircase.
In 1944 the house was purchased by The National Society of The Colonial
Dames of America in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was
designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. |
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Best Bed Chamber |
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The extensive collections of
furniture and decorative arts have been generously donated by Colonial
Dames. Chinese export porcelain and English ceramics are permanently on
view.
The remarkable costume collection, dating
from the 18th through the 20th centuries, includes dresses, fans, shoes,
parasols and children's clothing, selections of which are on continuous
display. The collection is available to researchers by appointment.
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Costume:
White cotton dress with tucks
and
lace insertions, 1900-1910 |
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William Hickling Prescott House ~ 55 Beacon Street ~ Boston, MA 02108 ~ Telephone: 617-742-3190
| Box Lunch |
Box Luncheon
During Beacon Hill Garden Club Tour
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Two Seatings: Noon and 1:00 p.m.
Please send a check for lunch only for $20 each lunch
Made payable to NSCDA-MA,
55 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02108
Indicate which seating you would like and include a
stamped, self-addressed envelope and your telephone number and
a confirmation will be sent to you.
For information, please call 617-742-3190.
Reservations should be made by May 10, 2012
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| Open: |
*May - October 31
Wed and Sat, 12-4 pm (except will be closed on Wed, Oct 19, 2011)
(last tour at 3:30 pm)
Admission: $5.00
* In May the House will only be open on the following dates:
Wed 5/11; Sat 5/14; Wed 5/18; Sat 5/21; Wed 5/25 and Sat 5/28.
In June the House will be closed from Wednesday, June 1 through Thursday, June 9. The House will reopen on Friday, June 10 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm for our portrait tour, "Portraits at Home". The House will then be open for tours on:
Sat 6/11; Wed 6/15; Sat 6/18; Wed 6/22; Sat 6/25; and Wed 6/29. In July the House will be closed Sat 7/9. It will reopen for regular hours starting Wed 7/13.
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| Group Tours: |
By appointment
Rates available upon request
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| Directions: |
The house is opposite the Boston
Common, under which there is a parking garage. It is within
easy walking
distance of the Arlington and Park Street subway stops. |
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