Pierce Hichborn House
The Pierce Hichborn House, also written Pierce-Hichborn House, is a brick Georgian house at 29 North Square in Boston's North End. Moses Pierce built it around 1711, which makes it one of the earliest surviving brick buildings in the city. It stands next to the Paul Revere House, and it is a National Historic Landmark. This page covers where the house is, its history, what you can see from outside, what to check before you plan an interior visit, and how to reach the North End with Boston Sightseeing.
Location
The Pierce Hichborn House is at 29 North Square, on the northwest side of the square, in the North End neighborhood of Boston. The Paul Revere House at 19 North Square sits just to the north, and the same organization, the Paul Revere Memorial Association, runs both buildings together. That shared ownership is why visitor information for one house often appears next to the other.
History
Moses Pierce, a glazier, acquired the lot in 1710 and probably built the three-story brick house the following year. The site had earlier belonged to John Jeffs, and Pierce's mother was Jeffs's daughter. The landmark record calls the house an early example of Georgian design and notes the earliest hipped roof yet recorded in Boston.
Nathaniel Hichborn, a boatbuilder and a cousin of Paul Revere, acquired the house in 1781, and his family owned it until 1864. The name "Pierce Hichborn" combines these two owners rather than naming one person.
Around 1850 the house became a tenement with a shop on the ground floor, and known occupants included a tailor and several Italian hairdressers and barbers. It was bought in the early 1940s to preserve as a historic house museum, though sources differ on the exact year and buyer. A restoration around 1950 furnished four period rooms to the 18th century, and the Paul Revere Memorial Association has owned the house since 1970.
Activities
At the time of writing, the interior is closed, so most visits today center on the outside of the house and the square around it. The section below explains what to look for and what to confirm before you go.
See The Exterior And North Square
Start with the facade. Look at the brick bands between floors, the curved arches over the lower windows and the symmetrical layout, then compare it with the narrow wooden front of the Paul Revere House next door. Standing in North Square, you can see both styles in one view, which is the quickest way to understand why historians value this house. Plan 15 to 30 minutes for the square and the two buildings from the outside.
Take A Guided Tour If The House Reopens
Entry to the house has historically been by guided tour only, and a visitor listing says tours ran usually twice a day, with a recommendation to phone ahead. The museum's own hours page now says the Pierce/Hichborn House is closed until further notice, and it gives no reopening date. Call 617-523-2338 before you plan an interior visit. When open, the house's original central staircase, early fireplaces and closets are the main features of the interior.
Pair It With The Paul Revere House
The Paul Revere House is the open museum on the square. The museum lists these hours, so confirm them before you go:
- April 15 to October 31: 10:00 AM to 5:15 PM, daily
- November 1 to April 14: 10:00 AM to 4:15 PM, closed Mondays in January, February and March
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
The winter schedule starts on November 1. Hours listed here were last checked on the museum's website in October 2026.
Nearby Attractions
North Square sits inside one of Boston's best-known historic neighborhoods, so most of these places are a short walk away.
- Paul Revere House: The colonial home of Paul Revere, directly next to the Pierce Hichborn House and listed on the tour map under Stop 9.
- Old North Church: The church famous for the "one if by land, two if by sea" lantern signal during the American Revolution.
- Copp's Hill Burying Ground: A historic burial ground on a hill in the North End, also listed near Stop 9.
- North End Park: A small green space that gives you a place to rest between sights.
- The North End: Known for its Italian restaurants and bakeries, narrow streets and early Boston history. See things to do in the North End for a wider plan.
- The Freedom Trail: The walking route that passes through the North End, including the Paul Revere House.
For more on the city's early landmarks, see historical attractions in Boston.
Planning Your Tour
The Pierce Hichborn House is best treated as part of a North End morning rather than a single stop, since its interior is closed and the surrounding sights are what fill the visit.
Visiting Tips
- Check the Paul Revere House hours first, since they set the rhythm of the square.
- Call 617-523-2338 to ask whether the Pierce Hichborn House has reopened for tours.
- Allow time to walk between North Square, Old North Church and Copp's Hill.
- Wear comfortable shoes, since the North End streets are narrow.
- Save the afternoon for other stops on the route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Pierce Hichborn House?
The Pierce Hichborn House is at 29 North Square in Boston's North End, next to the Paul Revere House at 19 North Square.
Is the Pierce-Hichborn House open to visitors?
The museum's hours page says the Pierce/Hichborn House is closed until further notice, with no reopening date. Call 617-523-2338 to confirm before you plan an interior visit. The Paul Revere House next door has its own listed hours.
Who built the Pierce Hichborn House?
Moses Pierce, a glazier, built it around 1711. He acquired the lot in 1710 and probably built the house the next year.
Who was Nathaniel Hichborn?
Nathaniel Hichborn was a boatbuilder and a cousin of Paul Revere. He acquired the house in 1781, and his family owned it until 1864.
How old is the Pierce Hichborn House?
It dates to about 1711, so it is more than 300 years old.
Is the Pierce Hichborn House the oldest house in Boston?
The museum calls it one of the earliest remaining brick structures in Boston, which is a narrower claim than the oldest building overall. The landmark record also notes its hipped roof as the earliest recorded in the city.
Is the Pierce Hichborn House next to the Paul Revere House?
Yes. The two houses stand side by side on North Square, and the Paul Revere Memorial Association operates them together.
Why is it called the Pierce-Hichborn House?
The name combines its builder, Moses Pierce, and the Hichborn family, who owned it from 1781 until 1864. It is not named for a single person.
How do I get to the Pierce Hichborn House with Boston Sightseeing?
The tour map lists the Paul Revere House under Stop 9, Historic North End. The Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, which includes Stop 9. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 and does not reach the North End.
Riding With Boston Sightseeing
Boston Sightseeing runs a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour with live commentary, so you can see Boston's main landmarks and get off where you like. The Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, including Stop 9, Historic North End. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 and does not reach the North End. The Cruise Terminal ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 and 12 to 15, so it does not include Stop 9 either.
The bus runs daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and the route starts at 206 Atlantic Avenue. See the ticket cards below for current options, and use the hop-on hop-off tour map to see every stop. The complete guide to hop-on hop-off tours in Boston explains how the tickets compare.
Our Tour Packages
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$33.25
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Experience historic Boston with unlimited hop-on hop-off at your own pace.
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$70.40
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Tour
Explore Boston & Charlestown with Boston's first double-decker bus at your own pace.
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- Stop-1 to Stop-11
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200 Minutes Hop-on Hop-off
Get onboard from Boston Cruise terminal and explore the historic beantown with Boston Sightseeing double-decker bus.
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$63.00
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A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
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