Peirce-Nichols House

Peirce-Nichols House is a three-story residential structure in Salem with wooden siding, matching chimneys, and a hip roof topped with a railing. Changes made in the early 1800s refined both its outer walls and interior spaces.

Samuel McIntire designed and built this house in 1782 for a leather worker. Over time it became home to prosperous merchants whose business dealings brought wealth to the town.

The interior spaces reflect how wealthy merchant families lived and displayed their tastes during the early 1800s. The way rooms were arranged and decorated shows what mattered to people of that time and status.

You will find this house at 80 Federal Street in the downtown area of Salem. It operates as a museum managed by the Peabody Essex Museum, so check in advance for visiting hours and any requirements.

The property once extended down to the North River where merchant ships could dock directly at the owner's business counting house. This direct link between home and harbor was remarkable and shows how tightly trade and family life were connected.