Visitor's Guide to the Otis House Museum in Boston

Boston is filled with historic landmarks, many of which date to the colonial period just before the Revolutionary War. The sites of the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, the Old North Church and the Old South Meeting House all played prominent roles in American political history and the colonies movement toward independence.

Another Boston landmark, located a short walk from these others, gives us a view of life after the war, when America was a young country and Boston was its wealthiest and most influential city.

The Otis House Museum at the foot of fashionable Beacon Hill, gives us a glimpse into the lives of Boston's wealthy and influential class. It was the home of Harrison Gray Otis, a developer who made the Beacon Hill neighborhood into a desirable place to live and made a fortune in the process. He later went on the serve in Congress and as Mayor of Boston.

Today, the Otis House Museum is a window into early American society. The house was designed by Charles Bullfinch, the country's first professional architect. He was responsible for designing the nearby Massachusetts State House, as well as for the United States Capitol's dome and rotunda in Washington. More than anyone else, Bullfinch was the driving force behind the "federal style" or buildings that have become synonymous with the early American period.

The Otis family was known to throw extravagant parties for the Boston elite, and the restored home reflects their social standing. Interior rooms feature brightly colored carpets and wallpapers and ornate furniture - all of which would have been typical in the homes of the wealthy class of people who risked so much when they opted to lead America to independence from England.

Guided tours are offered of the Otis House Museum. The tour explores the various aspects that made up life in Boston at the turn of the 19^th century, including business dealings, family life, social activities, and the role of household servants.

Currently, the Otis House is also home to Historic New England, an organization dedicated to preserving historic homes, often in partnership with private homeowners. The organization's library and archive are located at the Otis House.

The Otis House Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays year round. It is located at 141 Cambridge Street in Boston on the north side of historic Beacon Hill. It is a short walk from the Charles Street, Bowdoin Square and Government Center subway stops. Museum admission is by guided tour only, and there is a small admission charge. Discounts are available for families and couples. Residents of Boston are admitted free.