Charles Playhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1838-39 on Warrenton Street, south of Boston Common, this red brick building began as the Fifth Universalist Church. Architect Asher Benjamin adapted a church plan from his Builder's Guide into a Greek Revival temple with paired antae and two Ionic columns. A granite basement carried two stores whose rents were expected to bring about $800 a year, a requirement of the congregation led by Rev. Otis A. Skinner. The church is described as one of only three in Boston designed by Benjamin and the only remaining Greek Revival one. After the congregation left in 1862, it served a synagogue, the YWCA and a Scotch Presbyterian church, then hosted a speakeasy, nightclubs, a ballroom and theatrical booking offices. Since 1958 the Charles Playhouse company has used it for plays. The interior has been altered, and the facade has gained a marquee and changed basement openings, but the original form remains clear.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of only three Boston churches designed by Asher Benjamin and the only remaining Greek Revival example. It adapted a plan from Benjamin's Builder's Guide, adding street-level stores for rental income. It was also the first permanent home of the Fifth Universalist Society and later showed early adaptive reuse.
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 80000676, listed June 16, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 74-78 Warenton St., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | June 16, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000676 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Asher Benjamin |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (temple form with columns in antis) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Religion, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Houses the Charles Playhouse theatre, which has been in residence since 1958; the interior has been altered repeatedly and condition is listed as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34954, -71.06586 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80000676.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5081687
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.