Standish, Alexander, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1666 at 341 Standish Street in Duxbury, this two-story gambrel-roofed house sits on a wide field on a small peninsula with a view of Duxbury Bay. Alexander Standish, eldest son of Myles Standish, built it after the family home was destroyed by fire that year; his father deeded him the land. The shingled house measures 28 by 36 feet and has a large center chimney and a five-bay facade. Inside, the kitchen retains a broad fireplace with Dutch oven, crane and brick hearth, and the parlors have clamshell plaster walls. Some cellar beams are said to have been salvaged from Myles Standish's burned home. Alexander and his wife Sarah Alden raised eight children here, and Standish family members lived in the house until 1762. It later passed to John Faunce in 1777 and to Stephen M. Allen in 1870. It is noted as a rare surviving 17th-century gambrel-roofed dwelling.
Significance in brief: It was the original home of Alexander Standish, eldest son of Myles Standish. The nomination calls it a fine, rare example of a 17th-century gambrel-roofed dwelling. It was occupied by Standish descendants until 1762.
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 78001407, listed July 12, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 341 Standish St., Duxbury |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | July 12, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001407 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1600-1699 |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Standish |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, described as altered but on its original site. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.00842, -70.67874 (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 78001407.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4720135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.