Athenaeum Press
Also known as: Cuneo Press
Why it's listed
Athenaeum Press is a large brick industrial complex at 215 First Street in Cambridge, built in 1895 beside the Charles River for Ginn and Company, well-known publishers of school books. It was designed by Lockwood, Greene & Co., mill engineers of wide repute, and continues nineteenth century mill-construction techniques. The architects aimed for efficient, economical manufacturing and for worker health and safety, applying the latest ideas in ventilation, plumbing, lighting and fireproofing. Because the plant is highly visible from the Longfellow Bridge, it was given numerous stylistic embellishments, including a statue of Athena that has since been removed. It was the third and last of the major printing establishments to locate in Cambridge, following Riverside Press and Harvard University Press, and it is among the earliest and largest industrial plants on the reclaimed riverfront. Reviewers considered it locally significant for its tie to the city's book publishing industry and as a good example of mill construction.
Significance in brief: The building represents Cambridge's role as a major printing and publishing center, as the third and last of the city's major printing establishments after Riverside Press and Harvard University Press. It is also one of the earliest and largest industrial plants along the reclaimed riverfront and a good local example of nineteenth century mill construction. The reviewer judged it locally significant.
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 82001917, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 215 1st St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001917 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Lockwood, Greene, & Co. |
| Architectural style | Mill Construction |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as industrial in present use (then Cuneo Press); the statue of Athena has been removed. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37022, -71.08767 (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 82001917.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4813397
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.