Anderson, Larz, Park Historic District
Why it's listed
Larz Anderson Park in Brookline covers almost 62 acres of town-owned land that once formed the Weld estate, called "Windy Top" and later "Weld." The land was earlier the Goddard family's property. After Isabel Perkins Anderson acquired the estate in 1899, the grounds were landscaped to plans by Charles Platt. Her husband Larz Anderson served as a United States ambassador, and the couple entertained political and social figures here. The estate passed to the Town after her death in 1948, with a requirement that it serve educational and recreational purposes. Surviving features include a lagoon, a tree allee, a gazebo and remnants of an Italian garden. Buildings include the Wheelwright-designed carriage house, now a transportation museum, a stucco gatehouse, the Putterham School dating from the 1760s, a late 18th-century cottage and an Italianate house of the mid 19th century. Later skating and service buildings are noncontributing.
Significance in brief: The district was one of Brookline's grandest estates and the country home of Larz and Isabel Anderson. Larz Anderson served as a US ambassador. It also preserves landscape design by Charles Platt and includes two 18th-century structures and one mid-19th-century house.
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 85003245, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Goddard and Avon Sts., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003245 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Charles Platt (landscape); Edward Wheelwright; Wheelwright and Haven |
| Architectural style | Variety of architectural styles, including an Italianate house and a carriage house said to be modelled on the Chateau de Chaumont |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Park owned by the Town of Brookline and used for recreation. The carriage house holds the Museum of Transportation as tenant. Some small outbuildings are deteriorating, and the mansion was demolished in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 62 |
| Coordinates | 42.31209, -71.13592 (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 85003245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6492004
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.