Inman Square Historic District
Why it's listed
Inman Square, once called Atwood's Corner until 1875, is a compact commercial district in Cambridge at the meeting of Hampshire, Cambridge and Inman Streets. It is described as the only nineteenth-century commercial square in the city that remains virtually intact. Four buildings define it. The Waite Building (1855-57) was built for Charles Waite, a dry goods importer and major local landowner, and occupies a triangular lot. The Middlesex Bank Building (1874) is a large, prominent reminder of the square's late-century commercial activity. The Queen Anne block of 1894 has four storefronts below apartments, with patterned shingles, decorated bargeboards and original display windows. The 1912 Fire Station carries terra cotta panels tracing the history of fire fighting equipment, and it housed the city's first motor-driven apparatus. Together these buildings preserve the look of a New England commercial center, which is the basis for the district's recognition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls Inman Square the only nineteenth-century commercial square in Cambridge that remains virtually intact and keeps its early character. Four key buildings anchor the streetscape: the Waite Building, the Middlesex Bank Building, a Queen Anne commercial/residential block and the Inman Square Fire Station. 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 82001951, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hampshire, Cambridge, and Inman Sts., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001951 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1855-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Newhall & Blevins (architects, Inman Square Fire Station); Atlantic Terra Cotta Company of New York (fire station terra cotta panels) |
| Architectural style | Mixed styles, including Greek Revival commercial and Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as generally very good, with mixed uses including stores, a firehouse and a bank. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.37367, -71.10078 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 82001951.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6035057
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.