Lincoln-Sunset Historic District
Why it's listed
Lincoln-Sunset Historic District is a residential neighborhood of Lincoln and Sunset Avenues and part of Amity Street, two blocks west of Amherst Center in Massachusetts. Its 71 buildings are mostly large houses, with garages or barns behind, set on broad lawns under mature trees. The oldest is the Solomon Boltwood House of 1751, and the district includes Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate and Second Empire houses, along with later Colonial Revival ones. Most construction took place between 1870 and 1915, when local factories, businesses, Amherst College and the Massachusetts Agricultural College brought prosperity. Merchants, professionals and some professors built here, giving the area its nickname, Millionaire's Row. The real estate firm Westcott, Westcott and Stockbridge subdivided land into more than thirty building lots with deed restrictions that required a consistent streetscape, an early example of neighborhood planning in Amherst. The district was listed for its architecture, planning and social history, with a period of significance from 1751 to 1930.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1751-1930 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Greek Revival, Italianate, Colonial Revival (also Federal, Gothic Revival and Second Empire examples) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Acreage | 41.8 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Lincoln-Sunset Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.