Otis House

ArchitectureLocal HistoryHistoryTemporarily closedFrom $15Bowdoin (MBTA Blue Line)

Otis House is the last surviving mansion of Bowdoin Square, built in 1796 to a design by Charles Bulfinch for the young lawyer and future Boston mayor Harrison Gray Otis and his wife Sally Foster Otis. A National Historic Landmark, its interiors have been restored on the evidence of meticulous historical and scientific research, bringing back the brilliantly coloured wallpapers, carpeting and high-style Federal furnishings of the 1790s. Guided tours trace the family's life in the Federal era and the building's later incarnations as a medical clinic and a middle-class boarding house. The house doubles as Historic New England's headquarters and is currently closed for a multi-year restoration and accessibility project.

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On now All of October 2026

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Permanent Collections

Otis House web app graphic from Historic New England's Digital Visitor Experience

Otis House Digital Visitor Experience

Free web app and 360-degree virtual tour tracing how Otis House and the surrounding West End and Beacon Hill changed over time, with videos, new photography, oral histories and archival material.

Permanent collectionFree

Interior stairway of the Harrison Gray Otis House, Boston, photographed from the Lynde Street entrance hall

Otis House Guided Tour

Guided tour of Bulfinch's 1796 mansion, from the Otis family's restored Federal parlours and bedchambers to the building's later life as a medical clinic and boarding house.

Permanent collection$15

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Getting there

141 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Nearest station: Bowdoin (MBTA Blue Line), Charles/MGH (MBTA Red Line), Government Center (MBTA Green & Blue Lines) and North Station (MBTA Green & Orange Lines, Commuter Rail)

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Hours

Closed until further notice

Temporarily closed from 31 August 2026 for a multi-year restoration, accessibility and visitor-experience project. No reopening date announced.

Mon	Closed
Tue	Closed
Wed	Closed
Thu	Closed
Fri	11:00–16:00
SatToday	11:00–16:00
Sun	11:00–16:00

Admission

From $15

$13 seniors and students; $7 children; free for Historic New England members. $2 for EBT and WIC cardholders, for up to four guests (Mass Cultural Council Card to Culture programme). Prices are those charged in the 2026 season before the house closed for restoration.

Accessibility

Tours involve standing, walking and stairs. Visitors with limited mobility may be able to enjoy a first-floor tour of the house and grounds. Folding chairs are provided and a virtual tour can be accessed on a personal device onsite. The site has no ramps, elevators or lifts, and the house is not air-conditioned. Service animals welcome. The current restoration project includes comprehensive accessibility upgrades.

Last verified October 2026

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Nearby

The brick facade of the 1806 African Meeting House on Smith Court, Beacon Hill, Boston

Visitor Information

How much does Otis House cost?: Standard adult admission to Otis House is $15. $13 seniors and students; $7 children; free for Historic New England members. $2 for EBT and WIC cardholders, for up to four guests (Mass Cultural Council Card to Culture programme). Prices are those charged in the 2026 season before the house closed for restoration.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Otis House?: Otis House is open Temporarily closed. The last tour day before a multi-year restoration and accessibility project was Sunday 30 August 2026, and no reopening date has been announced. In its final season the house was open 3 April - 30 August 2026, Fridays to Sundays, with guided tours on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last tour 4 p.m.), closed 4 July. All visits are by guided tour.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Otis House?: Otis House is located at 141 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA, in the West End / Beacon Hill area of Boston. The nearest stations are Bowdoin (MBTA Blue Line), Charles/MGH (MBTA Red Line), Government Center (MBTA Green & Blue Lines) and North Station (MBTA Green & Orange Lines, Commuter Rail).
What can I see at Otis House?: Charles Bulfinch's 1796 Federal mansion at the foot of Beacon Hill, with vividly restored period rooms and Historic New England's HQ. Current highlights include Otis House Digital Visitor Experience and Otis House Guided Tour.
Do I need to book Otis House in advance?: Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Otis House?: Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Is Otis House accessible?: Tours involve standing, walking and stairs. Visitors with limited mobility may be able to enjoy a first-floor tour of the house and grounds. Folding chairs are provided and a virtual tour can be accessed on a personal device onsite. The site has no ramps, elevators or lifts, and the house is not air-conditioned. Service animals welcome. The current restoration project includes comprehensive accessibility upgrades.

Image credits

Otis HouseDaderot, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Otis House Digital Visitor ExperienceHistoric New England
Otis House Guided TourFrank Cousins, via Digital Commonwealth / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Museum of African American Historyajay_suresh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Nichols House MuseumJohn Phelan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Boston Athenæumajay_suresh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Old State HouseSeasider53, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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