Lyman Estate

Lyman Estate is a Federal-style mansion in Waltham with 24 rooms spread across multiple floors, featuring elegant spaces for entertaining. The grand ballroom showcases high ceilings, decorative friezes, and marble fireplaces throughout the interior.

Theodore Lyman, a Boston merchant, built this house in 1793 and his family used it as a summer residence for about 150 years. The house reflects the wealth and taste of New England's merchant class during that era.

The house shows how wealthy Boston families lived and entertained guests in the late 1700s through its original furnishings and decorated rooms. The formal gardens outside reflect the lifestyle and tastes of the merchants who called this place home.

The grounds are open daily and free to walk around, though a guided tour inside the house requires booking ahead and paying admission. Plan to contact in advance if you want to see the interior spaces.

One of America's oldest greenhouses sits on the property, built before 1800 and still standing among the formal gardens. The estate also preserves a massive brick wall built to grow peaches and maintains camellia plants that are over a century old.

Location: Waltham

Architects: Samuel McIntire

Architectural style: Colonial Revival architecture, Federal architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.38348,-71.22879

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41