Each issue of the American Landmarks newsletter examines an historic housing style popular sometime between 1730 and l930. For this issue we decided to examine a parade of styles in area museum houses - all a day trip or shorter.

Southern New England, and Boston in particular, is blessed with a myriad of house museums from every age in the history of American architecture. Most are a short drive and can be enjoyed on a spur-of-the-moment basis. Several readers have asked us to include a compendium of  area museums which embody the best characteristics of each of the important styles. Here are just a few we particularly like and recommend. There are many more excellent museums  worth a visit. Space alone prevents us from including them all.

First Period 1640 -1730

Dedham:  Fairbanks House, 1645
511 East Street.  (781) 326-1170

Topsfield: Parson Capen House, 1683
1 Howlett Street. (978) 887-3998

Boston: Paul Revere House, before 1680
19 North Square. (617) 523-2338

Georgian 1730 - 1790

Cambridge:Hooper-Lee-Nichols House, c. 1733 (on an earlier frame)
159 Brattle St. (617) 547-4252

Medford: Royall House, c. 1730-1760
15 George St. (781) 396-9032

Arlington: Jason Russell House c. 1760
7 Jason Street. (781) 648-4300
Weston: Golden Ball Tavern
662 Boston Post Rd. (781) 894-1751

Marblehead: Jeremiah Lee Mansion
161 Washington St. (978) 631-1069

Federal 1790 - 1820

Boston: 2d H.G. Otis House, 1796
141 Cambridge St. (617) 227-3956

Boston: Nichols House, 1804
55 Mt. Vernon St. (617) 227-6973

Waltham: Lyman House, The Vale 1796
185 Lyman St. (781) 891-7095

Waltham: Gore Place, 1806
52 Gore St. (781) 894-2798

Greek Revival 1820 - 1860

New Bedford: Rotch House, 1834
396 County St. (508) 997-1401

Kennebunkport, ME, Nott House, 1853
Main Street.  (207) 967-2513

Gothic Revival 1840 - 1860

Woodstock, CT. Bowen House, 1846
Route 169 (203) 928-4074
 
Italianate/Italian Villa, 1850 - 1870

Portland, ME. Morse-Libby Mansion, 1860. 109 Danforth St. (207) 772-4841

Queen Anne 1865 - 1885

Torrington, CT. Hotchkiss-Fyler House
192 Main St. (203) 482-8260
Colonial Revival 1880 - 1920

Danvers, Glen Magna, 1890 (on an 1814 frame) Ingersoll St. (978) 774-9165

Brookline,  J. F. K. Birthplace, 1908
83 Beals Street. (617) 566-7937

International Style/Bauhaus 1930 - 1950

Lincoln, Walter Gropius House, 1938
68 Baker Ridge Rd. (781) 259-8843

American Landmarks
One Mount Vernon Street, P.O. Box 1050, Winchester, MA 01890 (781) 729-5174