Anthony House
Also known as: Susan B. Anthony Birthplace
Why it's listed
Built in 1817 at Bowens Corner in Adams, Massachusetts, this rectangular, five-bay Federal-style house has a center entry, a shallow gable roof, twin interior chimneys and a small rear ell. Daniel Anthony built it shortly before his marriage to Lucy Read, on land offered by her father. Anthony came from a Quaker family among the early settlers of Adams. He taught at a local school, helped establish the Adams Academy in 1825, and with his brother built the Pump Log Mill in 1822. Susan B. Anthony, later a leader of the women's suffrage movement, was born in the house on February 15, 1820, and lived there until the family moved to New York in 1827. It is the only Massachusetts building associated with her life. The house stayed in the family until 1895. A Quaker descendants' group ran it as a museum from 1926 to 1949. Original woodwork and mantels remain, though doors, windows and the porch have been altered.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of rural Federal architecture. It was built by Daniel Anthony, an early contributor to Adams' industrial development and a member of a Quaker family among the town's original settlers. It is also the birthplace and childhood home of Susan B. Anthony, and the only building in Massachusetts associated with her life.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85000021, listed January 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 67 East Rd., Adams |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | January 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000021 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Anthony |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a private residence; operated as a small museum from 1926 to 1949. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.61551, -73.10229 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85000021.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4772743
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.