Greek Revival Cottage
Why it's listed
Built in 1847 at 59 Rice Street in Northwest Cambridge, this wood-clapboard cottage is regarded as the finest Greek Revival house in that part of the city and one of Cambridge's best-preserved porticoed cottages. Samuel Wright, a local carpenter and housewright, designed it as a speculative venture and also appears in the records as its original owner. Its most striking feature is a heavy pedimented gable that projects over a front porch. Three thin Doric columns are spaced in an asymmetrical pattern to frame the entrance, which gives the house what the survey describes as a naive quality. Other original details include a full pedimented entablature, fluted columns set under the gable, and pedimented dormers on the left side. The house has not been altered or moved, has always served as a residence, and has been carefully maintained. Its intact Greek Revival character and well-preserved architectural detail are the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The form calls it the finest Greek Revival house in Northwest Cambridge and one of the best-preserved porticoed cottages in the city. It was designed in 1847 as a speculative venture by a local carpenter. Its heavy pedimented gable and asymmetrically placed Doric columns give it a distinctive naive quality. The reviewer recommended listing under Criterion C.
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 82001943, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 59 Rice St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001943 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Wright - housewright |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form states it is unaltered and has not been moved, and is carefully maintained. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.39430, -71.12990 (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 82001943.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5601877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.