American Antiquarian Society
Why it's listed
Located on Salisbury Street in Worcester, this Georgian Revival building of brick with marble trim was erected in 1909-1910 as a research library for the American Antiquarian Society. Winslow, Bigelow & Wadsworth won a competition for the design, and R. Clipston Sturgis supervised construction. An octagonal core with a low dome holds the reading room, with a stack wing attached at the rear and a Doric portico marking the entrance. Additions in 1924, 1950 and 1972 expanded storage and offices while matching the original materials or staying largely below ground. The Society was founded in 1812 by printer Isaiah Thomas and ranks as the third oldest historical society in the country and the first national in scope. Its nearly three million books, newspapers, manuscripts and other items form the largest single body of printed source material on early American history, which is the basis for its designation as a National Historic Landmark.
Significance in brief: The Society, founded in 1812, is the third oldest historical society in the United States and the first national in purpose and collecting scope. Its library holds close to three million items, the largest single collection of printed source material on the first 250 years of what is now the United States. Its newspaper files and early imprints are described as unmatched.
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 68000018, listed November 24, 1968. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 185 Salisbury St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | November 24, 1968 |
| Reference number | 68000018 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Winslow, Bigelow & Wadsworth |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 24, 1968 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by the owner, the American Antiquarian Society; condition listed as excellent and altered, with additions in 1924, 1950 and 1972. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.27722, -71.81038 (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 68000018.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q55737040
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.