Webster, Daniel, Law Office and Library
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Why it's listed
This small yellow clapboard building in Marshfield, Massachusetts, served as the law office and natural history library of Daniel Webster. It stood on his Green Harbor estate, which he began assembling in 1832 with the purchase of a 160-acre property and later expanded by another 1,200 acres before his death in 1852. The main house burned in 1878, leaving the office as the only surviving structure from the estate. In 1966 the Marshfield Historical Commission moved it about half a mile from its original site to land that was once part of the Webster property, restored it and opened it to the public. Inside are Webster memorabilia and several pieces of his furniture. Webster was a lawyer, orator and statesman known for defending the Union, arguing the Dartmouth College case, and serving as Secretary of State. The building preserves his connection to Marshfield, which he treated as his true home.
Significance in brief: The building is the only surviving structure of Daniel Webster's Green Harbor estate, where he kept his natural history library and worked as a lawyer. Webster was a statesman, orator and lawyer who championed the Union, and Green Harbor was his true home. The nomination also notes his major Supreme Court cases and his role as Secretary of State.
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 74002053, listed May 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Careswell and Webster Sts., Marshfield |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | May 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1832-1852 |
| Areas of significance | Law, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 30, 1974 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and open to the public as a museum holding Webster memorabilia and some furniture from his home; condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07177, -70.67337 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 74002053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5219056
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.