Tyng, Col. Jonathan, House
Also known as: Tyng Mansion
Why it's listed
Perched on a knoll above the Merrimack River Valley in Tyngsborough, this 2½-story gambrel-roofed house was the home of Col. Jonathan Tyng, the first European settler of the area. Local tradition dates the house to 1675, when Tyng stayed on and fortified his home during King Philip's War while other settlers fled. Structural and stylistic evidence, including the central hall plan, open-string staircase and simple panelling, points instead to the first half of the 18th century for most of the building, with later changes. A monumental Corinthian portico was added in 1910, and the rear arcade is believed to date from the same time. Barns and sheds from the 19th and 20th centuries survive on the grounds, along with a family cemetery. The house was listed for its architecture and for its links to Tyng, who served as selectman, representative and garrison commander, and to the Pawtucket sachem Wannalancet, who spent his last years there.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the home of the region's first European settler, Col. Jonathan Tyng. It is also described as one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture in the lower Merrimack River Valley. It is further tied to events and people important to the valley's history, including King Philip's War and the town's founding.
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 77000188, listed August 19, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 80 Tyng Rd., Tyngsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | August 19, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000188 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1675 |
| Architect / builder | Col Jonathan Tyng |
| Architectural style | Georgian, with a Georgian Revival portico added in 1910 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and in good condition, with alterations. It is privately owned by a religious order, and a seminary building stands nearby. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 42.66021, -71.40744 (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 77000188.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5141776
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.