William Dean Howells House

The William Dean Howells House is a residential building in Second Empire style on Concord Avenue in Cambridge, displaying typical features of 1870s residential architecture in Massachusetts. The structure preserves its original architectural details and construction methods from that era.

The house was built in the early 1870s and was occupied from 1873 to 1878 by William Dean Howells and his family while he established himself as a major figure in American literature. His time in Cambridge was crucial to his literary influence and his role in shaping American writing.

The house served as a gathering place where writers and thinkers from the region met and exchanged ideas about literature and society. The rooms where these conversations took place remain visible to visitors today.

The building underwent extensive restoration work in 2011 under the guidance of the Cambridge Historical Commission to preserve its structural integrity and historic character. Visitors should be aware that visiting access and viewing arrangements may vary depending on the season.

The house was designed by Elinor Mead Howells, the wife of William Dean Howells, making it a rare example of female architectural design from the 1870s. This remarkable accomplishment shows women's contribution to building design in an era when this was highly unusual.