Creation, Evolution, Preservation: The Metamorphosis of 55 Mount Vernon Street

The Nichols House, constructed in 1804 and attributed to architect Charles Bulfinch, was an early Federal style home on the South Slope of Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood. But this is only the beginning of the home's architectural story. A close examination of the building reveals changes made by its owners to suit their needs and the changing times. On this house tour, we take a deep look at the home’s structure, both exterior and interior, including going behind the scenes to explore a few rarely visited areas. Join us as we journey through time from the creation of homes for Boston's wealthy elite on Beacon Hill, through the Nichols family’s tenure, and to the museum era.

The Nichols House Museum on Boston's Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.