Du Bois, William E.B., Boyhood Homesite
Why it's listed
This five-acre site on Route 23, about two miles west of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, marks the place where the Burghardt family home once stood. W. E. B. Du Bois grew up here on his grandfather's farm and spent his first seventeen years in the house. Today the remains are the foundation with its original flooring, a rubblestone chimney with hearthstone, and a cellar hole. A grassy field backed by pine, elm and maple trees forms a natural amphitheater. Du Bois became one of the most influential thinkers of his era. He earned a Harvard doctorate, helped found the Niagara Movement and the NAACP, edited The Crisis, and organized Pan-African Congresses. His friends purchased the property, and he owned it from 1928 to 1954, using it as a quiet retreat. The site was recognized for its link to his early life and his role in the struggle for Black equality.
Significance in brief: The site is tied to W. E. B. Du Bois, a leading scholar and civil rights figure who spent his first seventeen years on his grandfather's farm here. He co-founded the Niagara Movement and the NAACP, edited The Crisis, and promoted Pan-Africanism. Friends bought the property for him, and he owned it from 1928 to 1954.
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 76000947, listed May 11, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | MA 23, Great Barrington |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | May 11, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000947 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1868-1963; 1868-1885 |
| Areas of significance | Black, Literature, Education, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 11, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Only ruins of the original Burghardt house remain: the foundation with original flooring, a rubblestone chimney with hearthstone, and the cellar hole. The property is marked unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 42.17791, -73.39414 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 76000947.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7945186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.