Quincy Homestead
Why it's listed
Set behind a broad lawn at the corner of Butler and Hancock Streets in Quincy, this two-and-a-half-story clapboard house grew in stages during the Colonial period. Its oldest part dates to the 17th century and includes the Coddington Kitchen. Edmund Quincy enlarged and remodeled the house in 1706, and the sections were tied together in the mid-18th century. Later rooms were added, along with a study wing said to have been built for Henry Flynt, a longtime Harvard tutor. The exterior shows a gambrel roof, pedimented dormers, a roof balustrade and a Doric entrance porch with bull's-eye glass in the transom. The house matters because older 17th-century elements remain clearly visible within the later structure, and because it was the home of the Quincy family, from whom the city takes its name. Dorothy Quincy, who married John Hancock, visited often, and John Adams and Josiah Quincy were also guests. The Commonwealth owns it and operates it as a museum.
Significance in brief: The house is one of the few in Massachusetts in which 17th-century elements inside a later building remain clearly visible, and it shows the progression of Colonial architectural styles. It is also tied to the Quincy family, for whom the city is named, and to figures such as Henry Flynt, Dorothy Quincy, John Hancock and John Adams.
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 70000095, listed July 1, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 34 Butler Road, Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | July 1, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000095 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th and 18th centuries; specific date 1706 |
| Architect / builder | Edmund Quincy (1706 remodeling); John Marshall, workman who kept a diary of the work |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 5, 2005 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and structurally sound, with needs including floor repair, rewiring, roof shingling, window and balustrade repair, new gutters and painting; in use as a museum. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.25801, -71.00751 (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 70000095.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5298602
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.