Nichols House Museum

Nichols House Museum We are open Thursday - Sunday for tours at 10:00, 11:00, and 12:00. More info on our "Visit" page! The Nichols House Museum welcomes visitors year-round.

In 1885, Dr. Arthur Nichols and his wife Elizabeth purchased an 1804 townhouse attributed to architect Charles Bulfinch. The house was where their three daughters matured into designers, writers, and social activists. In 1930, Rose Standish Nichols (1872-1960) inherited the property and began laying the plans for its establishment as a museum. Soon after her death in 1960, the Nichols House Museum

opened to the public. Today, the Museum engages with the social concerns of those who lived and worked in the house. The Nichols House Museum maintains and preserves an original collection that reflects the Nichols family's cultural values and changing tastes across two generations. Highlights include sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Flemish tapestries, Japanese woodblock prints, and Boston furniture. Visitors also encounter day-to-day objects including an 1897 dumbwaiter and a 1936 radio. It provides an active schedule of lectures, programs, and special events for its members and the surrounding Boston community. The Nichols House Museum offers engaging tours and public programming for all ages. Groups that visit include students from nearby colleges and universities, adult learners, and youth. Visit and join the conversation.

Margaret (Nichols) Shurcliff and her father, Dr. Arthur Nichols, shared a zeal for bell ringing. On their travels they b...
01/22/2025

Margaret (Nichols) Shurcliff and her father, Dr. Arthur Nichols, shared a zeal for bell ringing. On their travels they befriended other ringers and chalked up musical achievements. Margaret was celebrated as the first American and only the second woman to ring a peal on tower bells (a feat that took over three hours.) Back home, they helped source bells for local churches and encouraged their friends to try their hands at ringing. Their accomplishments also resonated far beyond Beacon Hill. Margaret’s enthusiasm is even credited with launching the modern day handbell artform.

On Tuesday, January 28, join Back Bay Ringers Artistic Director Griff Gall for an engaging conversation exploring Margaret and Arthur’s musical legacy. He will discuss the history of tower ringing, the differences between change ringing and tune ringing, and how this Beacon Hill family revived the tradition of handbell ringing.

For more information and to register, visit the Programs and Events section of our website.

It's time for our January deep clean! The museum is closed for the month of January so our collections can get some tend...
01/18/2025

It's time for our January deep clean!

The museum is closed for the month of January so our collections can get some tender loving care. Our collections manager is hard at work making sure everything will look its best when we reopen for tours in February.

We're currently accepting proposals for the Summer 2025 Julie Linsdell and Georgia Linsdell Enders Research Fellowship.T...
01/16/2025

We're currently accepting proposals for the Summer 2025 Julie Linsdell and Georgia Linsdell Enders Research Fellowship.

This fellowship supports scholarly research relevant to the Nichols House Museum’s mission, interpretation, and collections, with a focus on women’s history, particularly women’s lives in late 19th and early 20th century Beacon Hill and Boston. This opportunity is open to anyone pursuing advanced research, including, but not limited to, graduate students, academic historians, independent scholars, and museum professionals. Individuals from backgrounds that have traditionally been underrepresented in museums are encouraged to apply.

For more information, see the About section of our website.

We're celebrating Rose Nichols’ 153rd birthday with a free open house! Stop by the Nichols House this Friday, January 10...
01/09/2025

We're celebrating Rose Nichols’ 153rd birthday with a free open house! Stop by the Nichols House this Friday, January 10, between 4 and 6 pm to enjoy a slice of birthday cake and explore the museum. 🎂

The Nichols's book collection has some intriguing titles in a row. Geoffrey Mcneil Moss's Whipped Cream was published in...
01/08/2025

The Nichols's book collection has some intriguing titles in a row.

Geoffrey Mcneil Moss's Whipped Cream was published in 1926. Set in London, this novel contains intricate character psychology and what might be called "adult themes" in the modernist world of the early 20th century.

Queed by Henry Snyder Harrison, was an American bestseller in 1911. Its young main character travels to Richmond, VA in search of his father, and learns the ins-and-outs of life in the South. 1911 is also the year of The Beacon, one of the novels in Eden Phillpott's Dartmoor Cycle. It depicts the landscape and lifestyles of the moors in southwest England, also the setting of The Hound of the Baskervilles. The area celebrates him to this day as one of the voices of Dartmoor.

It's your last chance to make a fully tax-deductible donation before the year-end! Donate today to ensure the Nichols Ho...
01/01/2025

It's your last chance to make a fully tax-deductible donation before the year-end!

Donate today to ensure the Nichols House Museum is equipped to continue our work in education and preservation and fulfill our mission as an independent,
non-profit organization.

The Museum is inspired by the Nichols sisters’ dedication to independent thinking and creativity. Whether in the realms ...
12/27/2024

The Museum is inspired by the Nichols sisters’ dedication to independent thinking and creativity. Whether in the realms of design, carpentry, government, or community, Rose, Marian, and Margaret each made a mark on the lives of those around them and continue to move us to action today.

Our goals are inspired by the Nichols family, but they are made possible by you.

With your donation, the Nichols House Museum can continue to offer new programming, fund research and internships, and preserve our historic Beacon Hill townhouse.

Follow the link to contribute today.

Happy birthday, Marian Nichols!Remembered as one of the founding members of the Beacon Hill Civic Association (still in ...
12/22/2024

Happy birthday, Marian Nichols!

Remembered as one of the founding members of the Beacon Hill Civic Association (still in action today), Marian Clarke Nichols fought for the safety and preservation of her neighborhood.

Founded in 1922, the BHCA works to protect the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood. In one instance, featured in newspapers here, the Beacon Hill Civic Association fought for improved air quality in the 1933s, arguing against the end of smoke inspections. At the time, most home heating systems relied on coal burning furnaces, which left heavy soot deposits.

Image credits: 1 – Marian Nichols on Beacon Hill. Schlesinger Library, Emerson-Nichols Papers, 1806-1953; 2 – “Reveals Beacon Hill Saturated in Smoke,” Daily Boston Globe, January 20, 1933. Via Proquest Historical Newspapers; 3 –“Object to Ending Smoke Inspection,” Daily Boston Globe, February 7, 1933. Via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

Want a break from the hustle and bustle of the season? We suggest a Nichols House Museum tour as the perfect way to rech...
12/20/2024

Want a break from the hustle and bustle of the season? We suggest a Nichols House Museum tour as the perfect way to recharge your holiday spirit!

Each room of the museum is decked with seasonal trimmings. The dining table is set for the best meal of the day— dessert —and each sister has fabulous 1890s attire to wear (thanks to the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who’ve loaned us some finery from their collection). Plus, you can view our seasonal exhibit about Margaret's handbell ringing, complete with a recording of the Beacon Hill Ringer's signature tune.

We're open for tours Thursday through Sunday through the end of the month. Visit and experience an old-fashioned, turn-of-the-20th century holiday on Beacon Hill!

Nichols House is looking for an Archives Intern!Working from January through March 2025, the intern will transcribe hand...
12/18/2024

Nichols House is looking for an Archives Intern!

Working from January through March 2025, the intern will transcribe handwritten manuscripts from the Nichols Family Papers Collection. This collection contains family correspondence, diaries, and financial and professional papers, focusing largely on Arthur Howard Nichols (1840-1923) and his daughter Rose Standish Nichols (1872-1960). Graduate students working toward history, art history, library, archival, or museum studies degrees are encouraged to apply; prior experience handling archival materials and reading 19th-century cursive is a plus.

More information about the internship can be found on our website, at the bottom of the About page. Link in bio.

In the calm after our Holiday House Tour fundraiser, we want to take a moment to thank everyone involved.From our busine...
12/15/2024

In the calm after our Holiday House Tour fundraiser, we want to take a moment to thank everyone involved.

From our business and individual sponsors, to our community partners the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the loan of historical clothing and King's Chapel for hosting the reception, and to all our ticket buyers - THANK YOU ALL!

Proceeds raised for the Tour are critical in supporting the ongoing preservation and operation of the Nichols House Museum.

The winter holidays are quickly approaching! Pictured is a collection of 1950’s Christmas cards from our archives. Admir...
12/12/2024

The winter holidays are quickly approaching! Pictured is a collection of 1950’s Christmas cards from our archives. Admiring the colorful and fun artwork gets us into the holiday spirit!

Another great way to get in the holiday spirit — visit us this December and experience the house decorated for the season with trimming inspired by Nichols family traditions and turn-of-the-20th-century styles.

This Sunday's Holiday House Tour will be a day of music and cheer! Join us and the Olde Town Carolers exploring our beau...
12/07/2024

This Sunday's Holiday House Tour will be a day of music and cheer! Join us and the Olde Town Carolers exploring our beautiful and festive neighborhood at its most beautiful time of year!

There will be singers and bell ringers strolling the Hill. Will you be there too?

A limited amount of tickets for the tour are still available. For tickets and more information, visit our website.

The Holiday House Tour is nearly here! We’re kicking off the festivities with bells and bows at the Eggnog Pre-Party.
12/05/2024

The Holiday House Tour is nearly here!
We’re kicking off the festivities with bells and bows at the Eggnog Pre-Party.

Candle-lit windows are a winter tradition on Beacon Hill going back to the turn of the 20th century. Margaret Nichols re...
12/05/2024

Candle-lit windows are a winter tradition on Beacon Hill going back to the turn of the 20th century. Margaret Nichols remembered that with the candles illuminating 55 Mount Vernon Street “individual charm beamed out of every window.”

Experience the Nichols House by (electric) candlelight on one of our evening tours, offered on December 12 and 19. Each room will be bedecked with trimming inspired by Nichols family traditions and turn of the 20th century styles. We’ll share seasonal stories and a few special items will be on display, including a loan of historic clothing from the collection of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Before or after the tour, enjoy a warm drink and check out our shop for a curated collection of unique gifts.

For more information, and to register, visit our website.

It's Museum Shop Sunday! Museum shops are the best for holiday gifts.😊Visit our shop for a curated collection of unique ...
12/01/2024

It's Museum Shop Sunday! Museum shops are the best for holiday gifts.😊

Visit our shop for a curated collection of unique gifts. New this year: hand painted glass ornaments featuring our beautiful Bulfinch-designed building.

In December, we have some special shop hours:
On weekdays, stop by anytime between 10 and 4. Ring the doorbell!
For evening shopping, on December 12 and 19 drop in anytime from 4 to 7:30.
You can also always visit before or after one of our guided tours.

Do you have your Holiday House Tour tickets yet? Included in your Tour ticket is a reception at the King’s Chapel Parish...
12/01/2024

Do you have your Holiday House Tour tickets yet?

Included in your Tour ticket is a reception at the King’s Chapel Parish House with light refreshments and festive jazz. The Alex Minasian Jazz Duo will present an afternoon of jazz honoring the legends of jazz music and holiday favorites.

Click the link in our bio to purchase tickets to this annual fundraiser. 🎶

Image of the King's Chapel Parish House: Samuel Chamberlain Photograph Negatives Collection, Courtesy of Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley, MA, via the Digital Commonwealth.

In the midst of our preparations, decorations, and celebrations for the Holiday House Tour, we would like to thank our g...
11/24/2024

In the midst of our preparations, decorations, and celebrations for the Holiday House Tour, we would like to thank our generous business sponsors. These businesses enrich and support our community, making Beacon Hill a special neighborhood. This shopping season and all year round, please support your local businesses as they support local organizations like the Nichols House Museum!

Address

55 Mount Vernon Street
Boston, MA
02108

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 12:45pm
Thursday 10am - 12:45pm
Friday 10am - 12:45pm
Saturday 10am - 12:45pm
Sunday 10am - 12:45pm

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Our Story

In 1885, Dr. Arthur Nichols and his wife Elizabeth purchased an 1804 townhouse attributed to architect Charles Bulfinch. The house was where their three daughters matured into designers, writers, and social activists. In 1930, Rose Standish Nichols (1872-1960) inherited the property and began laying the plans for its establishment as a museum. Soon after her death in 1960, the Nichols House Museum opened to the public. Today, the Museum engages with the social concerns of those who lived and worked in the house.

The Nichols House Museum maintains and preserves an original collection which reflects the Nichols family's cultural values and changing tastes across two generations. Highlights include sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Flemish tapestries, Japanese woodblock prints, and Boston furniture. Visitors also encounter day-to-day objects including an 1897 dumbwaiter and a 1936 radio.

The Nichols House Museum welcomes visitors year-round. It provides an active schedule of lectures, programs, and special events for its members and the surrounding Boston community. The Nichols House Museum offers engaging tours and public programming for all ages. Groups that visit include students from nearby colleges and universities, adult learners, and youth.

Visit and join the conversation.