Lincoln Center Historic District
Also known as: Lincoln Center
Why it's listed
Lincoln Center is a 161-acre village core at the geographic center of Lincoln, Massachusetts, about 15 miles west of Boston. Six roads radiate from a central watering trough, lined with 59 buildings that are almost all residential, along with two churches, a library, two town halls, a school, a town common and two burying grounds. Stone walls, hedges, orchards, hay fields and large house lots preserve a rural feel. The buildings trace local history from the Georgian Brown-Russell-Chapin House of 1734-1754 through Federal homes such as the Samuel Hoar House, Greek Revival houses and the 1848 Old Town Hall, to Victorian Romanesque landmarks like the 1883-1884 library and 1891 Stone Church, and Colonial Revival estates. The district was listed because it shows the growth of Lincoln's center from early 18th century settlement into a well-to-do suburban enclave while keeping its village scale and open land.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district was the fulcrum of Lincoln's development from first settlement in the early 18th century to the present. It keeps its village scale, rural character and open land, and holds many well-preserved 18th and 19th century homes and civic buildings. It is presented as an outstanding example of New England village life, significant at the local level.
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 85001604, listed July 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bedford, Lincoln, Old Lexington, Sandy Pond, Trapelo & Weston Rds., Lincoln |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001604 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1747-1930 |
| Architect / builder | multiple |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Georgian Revival, Colonial Revival, Victorian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture, Agriculture, Conservation, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent, original site, altered; the district is occupied and includes private residences, government, educational, religious and park uses. |
| Acreage | 161.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.42753, -71.30746 (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 85001604.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6550523
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.