Nathan Appleton Residence

The Nathan Appleton Residence consists of two adjoining brick townhouses at 39-40 Beacon Street displaying early 19th-century architecture with three main stories and classical porticoes. The buildings were later expanded with an additional floor and subdivided into individual housing units.

The residence was built in 1821 as the home of textile manufacturer Nathan Appleton and hosted the 1843 wedding of his daughter Frances to poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This event marked one of the notable occasions in Boston's artistic and industrial circles of that era.

The building served as headquarters for the Women's City Club of Boston from 1914 through the 1990s, reflecting how women's social roles evolved in the city. The elegant rooms where gatherings took place remain visible to those who visit.

The building now houses individual residential units and remains easily visible from Beacon Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Visitors can view the facades and classical architecture from the street without needing access to the interior.

The residence is actually two mirror-image townhouses joined by a shared firewall, with each side featuring rounded bays containing paired windows that mirror each other. This hidden structural connection makes the buildings appear as separate houses from the street view.