Dana-Palmer House

{{short description|Historic house in Massachusetts, United States}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox NRHP | name = Dana-Palmer House | nrhp_type = | image = Dana-Palmer House, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2019) - 149.jpg | caption = | location = 12–16 Quincy Street,<br/>Cambridge, Massachusetts | coordinates = {{coord|42|22|22.8|N|71|6|52.8|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Massachusetts#USA | area = | built = 1822 | architect = | architecture = Greek Revival, Federal | added = May 19, 1986 | mpsub = Cambridge MRA | refnum = 86001682<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref> }}

The '''Dana-Palmer House''' (also known as '''Dana-Peabody House''')<ref name="HPIRC">{{Cite web |title=Dana Palmer |url=https://harvardplanning.emuseum.com/sites/102/dana-palmer |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=Harvard Property Information Resource Center |publisher=Harvard University}}</ref> is an historic house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The two-story wood-frame house was built in 1823, and is basically Federal in its styling, although it has a Greek Revival porch. From 1835 to 1842 the building served as Harvard's astronomical observatory; from 1842 to 1947 as a faculty residence for several notable faculty; from 1947 to 2006 as an official visitor guest house; and after 2006 as home of Harvard's department of comparative literature.

==History== The house was built in 1823 on land belonging to the Dana family, and was occupied by Richard Henry Dana Sr. among others, until its acquisition by Harvard University in 1835.

===Observatory=== The building was quickly converted into an observatory in anticipation of the 1835 arrival of Halley's Comet.<ref name="Crimson" /> From 1835 to 1842 the building served as Harvard's first astronomical observatory, as well as a residence for William Cranch Bond, the observatory's director.<ref name="HPIRC" /> A transit mechanism was installed in the main room, and the roof held a turret on wheels for the telescope.<ref name="Cudhea" /> In 1843 the observatory moved to Sears Tower, and the Dana-Palmer house was used as a faculty residence.<ref name="HPIRC" />

===Residence and guest house=== Cornelius Conway Felton lived there starting 1842.<ref name="Cudhea" /> William James came up with his concept of "the Pluralistic Universe" after moving into the house in 1881.<ref name="Cudhea" /> George Herbert Palmer lived in the house from 1884 to 1933, the longest of anyone.<ref name="Cudhea" /> During Palmer's tenure, the house was remodeled and the turret removed.<ref name="Cudhea" /> Other residents include Andrew Preston Peabody, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals.<ref name="Crimson" />

In 1946, Harvard announced plans to demolish the house and replace it with Lamont Library, sparking alumni outrage and protest.<ref name="Cudhea" /> Donor Thomas W. Lamont '92 provided funds for the house to be moved;<ref name="Cudhea" /> the house was moved to its present location across Quincy Street in 1947.<ref name="Crimson" /> After this move, the house served as Harvard's official guest house for visitors.<ref name="Cudhea" /><ref name=MACRIS>{{cite web|url=https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=cam.289|title=MACRIS inventory record for Dana-Palmer House|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=2014-03-09}}</ref><ref name="Crimson" />

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.<ref name="nris"/>

===Comparative Literature=== Since 2006,<ref name="Schnapp">{{cite web |last1=Schnapp |first1=Jeffrey |title=About: A Message from the Chair |url=https://complit.fas.harvard.edu/about-page/ |website=Harvard University Department of Comparative Literature |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=3 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615125739/https://complit.fas.harvard.edu/about-page/ |archive-date=15 June 2025 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |quote=Dana-Palmer House, where we had relocated a year earlier [than 2007], became the home of the ... department}}</ref> Dana-Palmer House has been home to Harvard's department of comparative literature.<ref name="HPIRC" />

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="Crimson">{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1947 |title=Historic Dana-Palmer House Will Be Moved Across Quincy Street |work=The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1947/1/15/historic-dana-palmer-house-will-be-moved/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231227170508/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1947/1/15/historic-dana-palmer-house-will-be-moved/ | archive-date = 27 December 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Cudhea">{{cite news |last1=Cudhea |first1=David W. |title=Dana-Palmer House – Circling the Square |url=https://complit.fas.harvard.edu/article/dana-palmer-house-circling-the-square/ |access-date=3 August 2025 |volume=Alumni Bulletin |date=10 December 1952 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250517123252/https://complit.fas.harvard.edu/article/dana-palmer-house-circling-the-square/ |archive-date=17 May 2025 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref> }}

Category:Houses completed in 1822 Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:Harvard University buildings and structures Category:Harvard Square Category:1822 establishments in Massachusetts