McLean, Isaac, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1894 at 2218 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, this wood-frame house is a domestic Colonial Revival design by the architectural firm Hartwell & Richardson. Isaac McLean, who commissioned it, also acted as its builder. A hip roof covers the center-entrance facade, and the doorway, with an elliptical fanlight and sidelights, sits within a full-width Ionic porch that unifies the front of the house. Pilasters and a central Palladian-style dormer add further classical detail. The Palladian window motif is repeated on the carriage house at the rear of the property, which has since been converted to office use. The house has not been altered or moved. It was listed because it is regarded as the best example of domestic Colonial Revival architecture in Northwest Cambridge, and a reviewer recommended it under the architectural criterion. Today the building serves both residential and commercial purposes.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the best example of the domestic Colonial Revival style in Northwest Cambridge. It was designed in 1894 by the well-known architectural firm Hartwell & Richardson, and the owner, Isaac McLean, also served as the builder. The reviewer recommended listing under Criterion C for its architecture.
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 82001960, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2218 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001960 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Hartwell and Richardson (architects); Isaac McLean (owner and builder) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is given as residential/commercial; the former barn or carriage house is now an office. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.39302, -71.12584 (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 82001960.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6076776
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.