David Sears House

The David Sears House is a historic house at 42–43 Beacon Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The three story house was built in several stages between 1816 and 1875. Now a National Historic Landmark, it was one of the first houses built of granite in the city, and was designed by Alexander Parris for David Sears, a prominent merchant, philanthropist, and landowner. The carved granite panels that adorn the facade were carved by Solomon Willard.[2]

David Sears House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The gray granite walls of the David Sears House, as seen on Beacon Street
Location	Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°21′24.66″N 71°4′0.07″W
Built	1816
Architect	Parris, Alexander
Architectural style	Other, Federal
Part of	Beacon Hill Historic District (ID66000130)
NRHP reference No.	70000731[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 30, 1970
Designated NHL	December 30, 1970
Designated CP	October 15, 1966

The original 1816 house was a two-story L-shaped structure with a hip roof, with a facade that was seven bays wide. In c. 1824 Sears had the building nearly doubled in size, adding three bays to the facade, and moving the front door to its present location. In 1875, after the building was acquired by the Somerset Club, the third floor was added, changing the roof from a hip to a gable. This work also included renovations to the interior of the first two floors. The building was again enlarged to the rear in 1900, adding additional space for servants.[2]

The house is still owned by Somerset Club, and is not open to the general public. It was designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[1]