{"nrhp_refnum":"66000135","name":"Bowditch, Nathaniel, House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"North St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Salem","county":"Essex County","state":"MA","lat":42.521757802500076,"lon":-70.89891189693097,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1966-10-15","is_nhl":true,"nhl_designated_date":"1965-01-12","areas_of_significance":["Science","Invention"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A 3-story Federal-style frame and clapboard house built early in the 19th century on Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, and moved around 1945 to its present site at 9 North Street to avoid demolition for street widening.","why_significant":"It was the home of Nathaniel Bowditch from 1811 to 1823. Bowditch was a self-taught scientist whose New American Practical Navigator (1802) advanced navigation and became the standard seamen's manual. He also translated LaPlace's Mecanique Celeste and became the first insurance actuary in the country.","narrative":"This Federal-style house at 9 North Street in Salem was built early in the 19th century on Essex Street and moved to its current site around 1945 to save it from a street-widening project. It has a 3-story frame main block with a low hipped roof, a 2½-story rear ell, and a five-bay front with a centered doorway framed by engaged Corinthian columns. The house was badly deteriorated when moved and needed major repairs. The exterior remains close to its original appearance except for a missing roof balustrade, while the interior has been altered. From 1811 to 1823 it was the home of Nathaniel Bowditch, a self-educated Salem scientist. His New American Practical Navigator, published in 1802, replaced an error-filled British manual as the standard guide for sailors. He also translated LaPlace's work on mathematical astronomy and served as an insurance company president. The city now owns the house and uses it for offices.","period_of_significance":"1811-1823","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Federal","criteria":[],"status_note":"Owned by the City of Salem and restored after the move; used as offices by the Park, Police and Street Departments, and open to visitors by appointment. Described as in good condition.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 01:58:33.293439-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/93/7936/63793693/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/66000135_NHL.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/66000135/dbe42baf8c-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/66000135/dbe42baf8c-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Daderot at en.wikipedia","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nathaniel_Bowditch_House_-_Salem,_Massachusetts.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Daderot at en.wikipedia</a>, <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nathaniel_Bowditch_House_-_Salem,_Massachusetts.JPG"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"73000312","name":"Chestnut Street District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/massachusetts/chestnut-street-district-73000312/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63793693","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Bowditch_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6969514"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/essex-county/bowditch-nathaniel-house-66000135/"}