King Caesar House
Also known as: Ezra Weston II House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1808 on Powder Point in Duxbury, this Federal style house was the home of Ezra Weston II, nicknamed "King Caesar" for his success in shipbuilding and shipping. The original two-story, T-plan house has a hip roof, four tall chimneys, a five-bay symmetrical south facade, and a doorway with leaded glass sidelights and fanlight. Later ells and an early two-story addition extend to the rear, including a summer kitchen. Inside, the parlors retain French wallpapers, and the rooms hold period furnishings, many belonging to the Weston family. The Westons ran farms, a ropewalk, a forge, a cotton mill, a sail loft and a ten-acre shipyard, and built and owned ninety-nine vessels between 1800 and 1842. The house is regarded as the finest Federal style building in Duxbury and faces the family's former wharf on the bay. Since 1965 it has housed a local historical society's museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest Federal style structure in Duxbury and the home of a prominent local family. Its builder, Ezra Weston II, was a leading American shipbuilder and shipowner whose family business built and owned ninety-nine vessels between 1800 and 1842. The house also faces south toward the family's harbor and wharf, which are included in the nominated property.
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 78000477, listed March 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | King Caesar Rd., Duxbury |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | March 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1808 |
| Architect / builder | Ezra Weston II (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent. The house is occupied and serves as the headquarters and museum of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, open to visitors each summer. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.04529, -70.66400 (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 78000477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6411309
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.