Matthew Thornton House

The Matthew Thornton House is a residential building in Derry with a square footprint and a distinctive steep-sloping leanto section extending from the north side. The interior has a center hallway that leads to rooms on multiple floors, with a single-story addition providing modern kitchen facilities.

This residence was built during the colonial period and served as home and workplace for Matthew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In the 1800s, the building received additions including Greek Revival details and a new front entry portico.

The house reflects how a building can serve multiple purposes across generations, showing how spaces were adapted over time. Visitors can observe the marks of different periods layered throughout the rooms.

Entry is through the front portico that leads directly into the central hall. Visitors should expect stairs to reach the different floor levels throughout the building.

The house originally had large chimneys that were replaced with smaller ones during later renovations. These changes are still visible in the building's walls and roofline today.