Parkman, Francis, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1824 on the south side of Chestnut Street in Boston's Beacon Hill, this three-story brick house is typical of the small row houses constructed in the neighborhood during the 1820s. It rises above a granite-faced basement, with an arched, recessed entrance, a fanlight and sidelights, and incised granite lintels over the windows. Inside are an open stairhall, three major rooms per floor, and a basement kitchen. Historian Francis Parkman lived here from 1865 until 1893, and the third-floor front room served as his study. Working from this home, he wrote most of his multivolume France and England in North America, a series that helped establish him as one of the country's leading historians. The house was divided into four apartments in 1957, but the exterior was left unchanged and original mantels, cornices, plaster medallions and door and window surrounds survive. It is not open to the public.
Significance in brief: The house was the principal residence of the historian Francis Parkman from 1865 until 1893. Most of his multivolume France and England in North America was written there. Stylistically it is also typical of the small brick row houses built on Beacon Hill in the 1820s.
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 66000782, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 50 Chestnut St., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000782 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1865-1893 |
| Architect / builder | not known |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 29, 1962 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition; divided into four apartments in 1957 with the exterior unchanged, and not open to the general public. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Beacon Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.35712, -71.06856 (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 66000782.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5482141
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.