Cushing, Caleb, House
Why it's listed
Caleb Cushing House at 98 High Street in Newburyport, Massachusetts, is a square, three-story brick Federal house topped by a cupola. William Hunt began building it after buying the land in 1808 but died before finishing it. John Cushing then bought the property, and it stayed in the family for three generations. The cupola was added in 1863 to serve as a nursery. Newburyport craftsmen carved the elaborate wood cornice, and the interior mantels, woodwork and paneling remain intact. The house is recognized chiefly for Caleb Cushing, who lived there from 1802 to 1849. As commissioner to China, he negotiated the 1844 Treaty of Wanghia, which gave the United States trade and diplomatic privileges equal to those of other powers. He later served as Attorney General and was noted for severing ties with his private law practice. The Historical Society of Old Newburyport uses the house as its headquarters and museum.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Caleb Cushing, a diplomat and politician who negotiated the 1844 Treaty of Wanghia, the first American treaty with China. It is also a fine example of Federal architecture with an elaborate carved wood cornice made by Newburyport craftsmen. Cushing lived there from 1802 until 1849 and kept using it for social and political functions afterward.
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 73000327, listed November 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 98 High St., Newburyport |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | November 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000327 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1802-1849 |
| Architect / builder | William Hunt began construction; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 7, 1973 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition and unaltered; occupied and used as a museum and headquarters by the Historical Society of Old Newburyport. Interiors are intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Newburyport Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.80664, -70.87037 (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 73000327.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5196191
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.