Longfellow House-Washingtons Headquarters National Historic Site (Additional Documentation)
Why it's listed
At 105 Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a Georgian house built about 1759 for John Vassall Jr. sits on 1.98 acres with a carriage house, barn and formal garden. The two-story wood-frame house has a pedimented central pavilion with giant Ionic pilasters, a balustraded roof and a staircase with Baroque detailing. Andrew Craigie added piazzas and a rear ell after 1791. The carriage house and barn, built in 1844 for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, mixes Greek Revival, Italianate and early Victorian features. The house served as a hospital for colonial wounded and as George Washington's headquarters from July 1775 to April 1776. Longfellow lived there from 1837 until his death in 1882, and his daughter Alice remained until 1928. The garden he designed, the original furnishings, and the study where he wrote are preserved. The National Park Service acquired the property in 1973, together with a large collection of art, books and manuscripts.
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).
| Styles | New England High Georgian (English Palladian and Baroque elements); carriage house with Greek Revival, Italianate and early Victorian features |
|---|---|
| Areas of significance | Military, Literature, Architecture, Conservation, Social History, Landscape Architecture, Archeology-Prehistoric, Archeology-Historic Non-Aboriginal |
| Acreage | 1.98 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Longfellow House-Washingtons Headquarters National Historic Site (Additional Documentation) (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.