Few cities contain as much American history in their homes as Boston, where several of them are national landmarks, such as the Paul Revere House , or the Shirley-Eustis House , a home constructed in Roxbury in the 18th Century by William Shirley, the Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Commander-in-Chief of all British forces in North America. The home is noteworthy to lovers of history and architecture because it’s one of four Royal Colonial Governors’ mansions left in the United States, and it’s the only one that was built by an actual Royal Colonial Governor.
Shirley Place became a National Historic Landmark in 1960, one of just a few landmarks in Boston that pre-date 1750. It served as the residence for two governors, one Royal (Shirley), and one Federal (William Eustis). The house has also been home to the Massachusetts Sixth Regiment of Foot, when it became a Revolutionary War barracks in 1775 during the Seige of Boston. Others who lived here include Jean-Baptise du Buc, the Haitian counselor to the King of France, Louis the 16th, and Captain James Magee, an Irish-American who did well in the China Trade.
Travelers and tourists who have found their way to the top Boston hotels should also find their way to the Shirley-Eustis House, joining at least 2,000 visitors a year. The home is open this summer in a limited fashion, opening for regular tours from noon to 4 pm on the following weekends, August 14 and 15, and September 11 and 12. Tours during the week are available by appointment only; however, this is a temporary condition. Usually, the house is open Thursday through Sunday, June through September, and by appointment any weekday throughout the year.
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