William Hickling Prescott House

This is an historic house which is currently owned by the NSCDA and is their HQ in MA. It's not a classic house tour with meticulously recreated rooms, rather there are a variety of rooms across the floors which represent the different families who lived in the home whilst also showcasing the pieces collected by the NSCDA too. Prescott is probably the most notable of the owners (and a really fascinating guy!) but the Dexter (gilded age era) and Colburn (early 19th century merchant) families are both interesting too! It also means you get to see how the house changed- for instance Prescott's library became the Dexter's dining room. If you're into costumes, they were also showing some of the hats from their collection too today! My guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable and friendly and so passionate about the house. I really would recommend taking a look around! You can book your tour on the website and the hours do vary- it seems to be either 11 or 3 for the tours (usually just one per day) and they're not daily so do check before you travel!

I was so disappointed in this location. We planned one of our vacation days around being able to visit this house (since the days they are open are highly limited) only to have them cancel all tours at the last minute. We showed up and found a paper posted on the front door saying closed. When we called to ask about private tours (which are an option according to their info) we were told they were not offering any. We walked in the rain to the location only to be turned away. I would avoid or at least use caution when trying to visit this house and don't expect a helpful staff.

Great place to visit. Tour was informative but not bogged down with too many details either. Nice museum that doesn't take all day. Tour is about 45 minutes so it's easy to go get food/coffee after. The house is kept in great condition and the staff are super friendly

Great time at this hidden gem! Our tour guide Clio was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Definitely a great way to spend the afternoon.

Worth the visit! Time travel in this beautiful Beacon Hill house museum and get to know the three fascinating families that once lived in this gorgeous Asher Benjamin designed bow-front townhouse across from Boston Common.

Wonderful tour and experience guided by Elizabeth. A must see for Boston history.

Not open. We called and they said come on by, but when we arrived they told us via intercom that they were closed.

If you've been dying for an excuse to check out one of those lavish historic homes on Beacon Hill, give this one a try. The tour is inexpensive ($5) and the house is gorgeous, with period furnishings mixed in with modern recreations. I would presume that the tour groups are typically small because it's not one of those "must-see" locations. Even so, it's right next to the Common (across from the Frog Pond), just a couple hundred feet from the State House so the location is very easy to find. Take the T to Park Street, for example, or park in the garage under the Common. The tour itself was led by a very friendly guide. Most of the tour seemed to focus on architecture or, more specifically, how the home changed over the years. I was not entirely interested; what usually drives me to visit a historic house is the person (or people) connected to it. In this case, I heard very little about William Hickling Prescott (a well-respected historian who was nearly blind) - up until the end. Inexplicably, there also was a focus on the American Revolution and how Boston was made up of landfill (neither aspects were relevant to this house). My guess is they were catering to the out-of-towners. Ultimately, I wouldn't call the Prescott House a hidden gem. But, it's worth a visit for folks that don't mind taking a few steps off the Freedom Trail (after all, there's more to Boston than a red line).

How is it I'm given tours in Boston for nearly 20 years and missed out on this Federal beauty? Our guide, Cynthia, clearly loves the house and its story. She was wonderful! The architecture is exquisite (interesting as subsequent generations made updates and you see that progression), the furniture wonderful, the costumes amazing (the accessories are just breathtaking!) and the stories of the people who called this place home really bring the house to life. Thanks to the Colonial Dames of America for preserving this piece of our past and opening it to the public. Hard core history buffs should definitely visit!

BORING! Half of the decor/furniture in the house is fake (reproductions). There is nothing remotely interesting about the history of the house or anything within it. The admission is pretty cheap ($8/person) but still not worth it.

Walked 5 mins after having a pint at the "Cheers" bar to the Prescott House for the last tour of the day at around 3pm ( they are flexible w the times so just drop by anytime before 3pm and you'll be fitted in!). WilliamHinckleyPrescott was the 1st American to travel to Mexico & Peru and his subsequent HistoryOfTheConquestOfMexico was the #1 on all bestseller lists when it came out! Since he's from a rich family and lived in this house, tis a great way to peek into the home+lives of the 19th century old money-ed! Everyone came to visit(which meant, staying on for a few months) including his close friend, WilliamThackerey and even CharlesDarwin. And YEP - found out that until today, the segregation on this post BeaconHill neighbourhood is enforced in that only members of SELECT (old) families are allowed to buy houses there!!

Even if I'm not familiar with Prescott, the house owner, or with the history of Boston itself, I enjoyed the tour. For $7, I was able to go all through the house, take pictures, learn about the house, its owner, the kind of life people led during those days and even sit on the furniture and touch almost everything! The tour guide couldn't be any nicer, she was a total darling. Because many people don't seem interested in the house, the tours tend to be really personal, and can take from 30 minutes to one hour if you wish, I felt confortable during the whole tour and it was definitely worth the $7.