Porcellian Club
Why it's listed
Standing at 1320-24 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, this brick building was completed in 1890 as a clubhouse for the Porcellian Club, with a shop front at street level. William Y. Peters was the architect. Brown Roman brick forms the austere facade, trimmed with brownstone. The elliptical fanlight over the entrance is echoed above the second-floor Palladian window, and broken scroll pediments cap eight-over-eight dormers that line up with the windows below. The flat facade, delicate detailing and harmonious proportions are characteristic of Federal architecture, here revived in a late nineteenth-century form. The Porcellian was founded in 1791 and was the third of Harvard's final clubs, which admit only juniors and seniors. It drew members from elite families across the Northeast and South, and it remains the most prestigious and most limited in membership. The building was erected to mark the club's hundredth anniversary and still serves as its meeting place.
Significance in brief: The building is presented as a fine example of Federal Revival architecture, with delicate window and entrance details on an austere brick facade. It was built to mark the club's 100th anniversary. The Porcellian, founded in 1791, is described as the most prestigious and exclusive of Harvard's final clubs.
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 83000824, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1320-24 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000824 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William Y. Peters |
| Architectural style | Federal Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continues in use as a meeting place for the club; present use listed as residential/commercial. Recorded as unaltered and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.37300, -71.11776 (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 83000824.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16975475
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.