Beauport
Also known as: Sleeper-McCann House; Little Beauport; Sleeper, Henry Davis, House
Why it's listed
Beauport is a sprawling Shingle-style summer house on a rocky ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor in the Eastern Point neighborhood of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Henry Davis Sleeper, an antiquarian, collector and interior decorator, began it in 1907 with plans by local architect Halfdan M. Hanson, then enlarged it repeatedly until his death in 1934. The result is an irregular house of brick, fieldstone and shingle with towers, bays, porches and a maze of roof forms, grown to fifty-six rooms. Inside, Sleeper arranged themed and period rooms using architectural salvage from Colonial houses, along with furniture, glass, ceramics and other collections. Examples include the Pine Kitchen with woodwork from a c. 1650 house in Pembroke and the red-accented Octagon Room. A gatehouse, tool shed and garage built by Sleeper also survive. Later owners preserved the house and collections, and in 1942 it passed to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. It now operates as a seasonal museum, with its design and contents largely intact.
Significance in brief: The visible text focuses on description and does not include the full Statement of Significance. It presents Beauport as the work of Henry Davis Sleeper, a nationally noted antiquarian, collector and interior decorator, who expanded it to fifty-six rooms. The house, its themed rooms and its collections remain remarkably intact.
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 03000641, listed May 27, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 75 Eastern Point Boulevard, Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | May 27, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000641 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Halfdan M. Hanson (architect); Henry Davis Sleeper (designer/owner who directed construction) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 27, 2003 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a seasonal house museum open in spring, summer and fall; the house, outbuildings, interiors and collections remain remarkably intact. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.59119, -70.66018 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 03000641.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2293994
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.