Commonwealth Pier Five
Also known as: Commonwealth Pier
Why it's listed
Commonwealth Pier Five, at 165 Northern Avenue in South Boston, was completed in 1914 and covers an entire pier measuring 400 by 1500 feet. It has a steel and concrete head house, faced in cast stone, with a monumental Beaux Arts facade built around a triumphal arch and Tuscan columns. Behind it sit three steel-truss and concrete sheds, since joined into one large interior space. The pier was planned to combine rail, marine and vehicle traffic in one facility, with a viaduct linking the head house to nearby South Station. When built, it was the world's largest pier and the first project in the commercial development of the South Boston Flats. It became a center of the American wool trade and a port of entry for immigrants, and served as a Naval Supply Station in both world wars. H.P. Converse and Company built it for the Directors of the Port of Boston. Today it hosts expositions, offices and warehousing.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the world's largest pier when built and the first construction project in the commercial development of the South Boston Flats. Its head house is described as one of Boston's major examples of Beaux Arts architecture. The pier also helped revive Boston's maritime interests in the early twentieth century.
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 12001162, listed October 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 165 Northern Ave., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | October 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 12001162 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | H.P. Converse and Company (builder), under the supervision of Frank W. Hodgdon, City Engineer |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Military, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority; used for large expositions, offices and short-term warehousing, and as Boston's only passenger ship terminal for limited steamship activity. Condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.34951, -71.04105 (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 12001162.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.