Urban Rowhouse, Second Empire terrace house in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Urban Rowhouse on Pearl Street is a wood-frame building with curved bay windows that rise all the way to its mansard roof, characteristic of Second Empire residential design. The structure shows the tight, vertical proportion typical of rowhouses built to fit many homes onto a single city block.
Built in 1875 during Cambridge's rapid expansion, this house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for its architectural merit. The construction date places it in the era when wood-frame rowhouses became the standard solution for housing urban residents.
This rowhouse represents a common housing type that emerged to accommodate Cambridge's expanding population during rapid urban growth in the 1800s. You can see how tightly these homes were built together to maximize space in the developing neighborhood.
The house is located on Pearl Street in a residential neighborhood and is easiest to explore on foot as part of a walking tour of the area. Since it remains a private residence, viewing is limited to the exterior, but the architectural details are visible from the street.
This rowhouse stands out for being made of wood while most neighboring buildings are brick, creating a striking visual contrast on the street. The difference in materials reflects how builders made varied choices during the same construction period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
