Dana-Palmer House

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Dana-Palmer House
Dana-Palmer House, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2019) - 149.jpg
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Location12–16 Quincy Street,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°22′22.8″N71°6′52.8″W / 42.373000°N 71.114667°W / 42.373000; -71.114667
Built1822
Architectural styleGreek Revival, Federal
MPS Cambridge MRA
NRHP reference No. 86001682 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 19, 1986

The Dana-Palmer House (also known as Dana-Peabody House) [2] is an historic house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The two-story wood-frame house was built in 1823, and is basically Federal in its styling, although it has a Greek Revival porch. From 1835 to 1842 the building served as Harvard's astronomical observatory; from 1842 to 1947 as a faculty residence for several notable faculty; from 1947 to 2006 as an official visitor guest house; and after 2006 as home of Harvard's department of comparative literature.

Contents

History

The house was built in 1823 on land belonging to the Dana family, and was occupied by Richard Henry Dana Sr. among others, until its acquisition by Harvard University in 1835.

Observatory

The building was quickly converted into an observatory in anticipation of the 1835 arrival of Halley's Comet. [3] From 1835 to 1842 the building served as Harvard's first astronomical observatory, as well as a residence for William Cranch Bond, the observatory's director. [2] A transit mechanism was installed in the main room, and the roof held a turret on wheels for the telescope. [4] In 1843 the observatory moved to Sears Tower, and the Dana-Palmer house was used as a faculty residence. [2]

Residence and guest house

Cornelius Conway Felton lived there starting 1842. [4] William James came up with his concept of "the Pluralistic Universe" after moving into the house in 1881. [4] George Herbert Palmer lived in the house from 1884 to 1933, the longest of anyone. [4] During Palmer's tenure, the house was remodeled and the turret removed. [4] Other residents include Andrew Preston Peabody, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals. [3]

In 1946, Harvard announced plans to demolish the house and replace it with Lamont Library, sparking alumni outrage and protest. [4] Donor Thomas W. Lamont '92 provided funds for the house to be moved; [4] the house was moved to its present location across Quincy Street in 1947. [3] After this move, the house served as Harvard's official guest house for visitors. [4] [5] [3]

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. [1]

Comparative Literature

Since 2006, [6] Dana-Palmer House has been home to Harvard's department of comparative literature. [2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dana Palmer". Harvard Property Information Resource Center. Harvard University. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Historic Dana-Palmer House Will Be Moved Across Quincy Street". The Harvard Crimson . January 15, 1947. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cudhea, David W. (December 10, 1952). "Dana-Palmer House – Circling the Square". Vol. Alumni Bulletin. Cambridge, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on May 17, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ "MACRIS inventory record for Dana-Palmer House". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Schnapp, Jeffrey. "About: A Message from the Chair". Harvard University Department of Comparative Literature. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University. Archived from the original on June 15, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025. Dana-Palmer House, where we had relocated a year earlier [than 2007], became the home of the ... department


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