Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

  • Also Known As: Longfellow National Historic Site
  • Historically Known As: The Craigie House
  • Also Known As: Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House

  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

Where American Character And Culture Were Shaped

Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site preserves the home of Henry W. Longfellow, one of the world's foremost 19th century poets. The house also served as headquarters for General George Washington during the Siege of Boston, July 1775 - April 1776. In addition to its rich history, the site offers unique opportunities to explore 19th century literature and arts. - NPS


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1759/00/00 Longfellow House is built for John Vassall, a British loyalist who fled Cambridge at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
1775/07/00 George Washington American Commander in Chief Siege of Boston, George Washington Siege of Boston
1776/03/28 Phillis Wheatley Guest Phillis Wheatley may have met with Washington for about 30 minutes at his headquarters in Cambridge. Although B J Lossing later claimed that she had visited in March of 1776, there is no contemporaneous evidence of such a meeting.
1791/00/00 Andrew Craigie, Washington's Apothecary General, buys the Vassall House.
1810/00/00 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr Life Cambridge boys, including Oliver W Holmes, knock on Andrew Craigie's shuttered windows and then run, as if from a haunted house.
1837/00/00 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Home Spring 1837, Henry Longfellow begins renting rooms from widow Elizabeth Craigie.
1843/08/30 Nathan Appleton Father of the bride Father of the bride, Nathan Appleton, gives a house as wedding gift to his daughter Fanny and his son-in-law, Henry. Marriage of Fanny Appleton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1850/00/00 Ralph Waldo Emerson Visitor Frequent visitor
1850/00/00 Charles Sumner Visitor Friend of Henry Longfellow and frequent visitor
1850/00/00 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr Visitor Frequent visitor
1853/06/14 Nathaniel Hawthorne Guest of honor Longfellow host a farewell dinner party for Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne Farewell Dinner Party
1853/06/14 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Host Longfellow host a farewell dinner party for Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne Farewell Dinner Party
1853/06/14 Fanny Appleton Longfellow Hostess Longfellow host a farewell dinner party for Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne Farewell Dinner Party
1863/12/25 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poet Henry W Longfellow writes "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". The poem will later became the lyrics for a Christmas Carol of the same name.
1882/00/00 Ellen Biddle Shipman Landscape Architect Marthas Hutcheson and Ellen Shipman design new landscape
1882/00/00 Martha Brookes Hutcheson Landscape Architect Marthas Hutcheson and Ellen Shipman design new landscape
1883/00/00 Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz President First class graduates from the Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women (aka Harvard Annex, the future Radcliffe College).

Places

PlaceAsNotedInType
PlaceAsNotedInType
Ruggles-Fayerweather House
William Brattle House
  • NRHP

Data »

Particulars for Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Building
Owner Federal
Criteria Historic Event
Area of Significance Literature
Area of Significance Military
Level of Significance National
Other Description New England High Georgian
Criteria Person
Historic Use Single dwelling



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 66000049
Resource Type:
Owner: Federal
Architectural Style: Other
Attribute: New England High Georgian
Other Certification: Additional documentation, Designated National Landmark
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Military, Literature, Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering, Person
Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1850-1874, 1750-1799, 1825-1849
Significant Year: 1759, 1837, 1882
Associated People: Longfellow,Henry Wadsworth
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-Function: Single dwelling
Current Function: Recreation and Culture, Education, Landscape
Current Sub-Function: Museum Park

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