This article lists the oldest buildings in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America, including the oldest houses in Massachusetts and any other surviving structures. Some dates are approximate (indicated with a "c.") and based on architectural studies and historical records, while other dates are based on dendrochronology. All entries should include citation with reference to: 17th century architectural features; a report by an architectural historian; or dendrochronology. Sites on the list are generally from the First Period of American architecture. Only First Period houses built prior to 1728 are suitable for inclusion on this list or the building must be the oldest of its type.

It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. (June 2023)

The Fairbanks House (built 1641) is the oldest house verified using dendrochronology, followed by the James Blake House (built in 1661), but most First Period structures in Massachusetts have not yet been tested with dendrochronology surveys.

The following structures have been verified using dendrochronology or some other type of architectural survey.

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Building	Image	Location	First built	Short summary
Fairbanks House		Dedham	1641	The Fairbanks House is the oldest verified wood-frame house in North America after timbers were dated from 1637–1641 using dendrochronology. This home is largely preserved in its original state with the central complex being the oldest. Later additions (including wings, and lean-tos on the original structure) were added after 1800 as the family's descendants grew in numbers.[1][2]
James Blake House		Dorchester	1661	The James Blake House is the oldest verified house in Boston as determined by a dendrochronology study conducted in 2007.[3][4] This structure is noteworthy as it contains West England country framing which is rarely seen in the United States.[3] In 1895, the James Blake House was moved to its present location as the city needed to make room for avenue widening.[5] The house retains the same "probable appearance" exterior as built minus two gables that were present at the front end.[3]
Churchill House		Plymouth	1662	The Churchill House is located at 250 Sandwich Street. Beams from the oldest portion of the house were felled in the 1650s and 1661 or 1662, likely making it the oldest house in Plymouth verified with dendrochronology according to Professor J. Ritchie Garrison.[6] Before the dendrochronology study, Churchill House was surveyed in the 1960s and 1970s and believed to have been the home of John's son, Joseph Churchill, and to have been built between 1672 and 1695.[7][8]
Pickering House		Salem	1664	The Pickering House is located at 18 Broad Street in the Chestnut Street District, and has been owned by the same family since it was built. Results from a dendrochronology study conducted in 2007 show that the oldest parts of the house date to the winter of 1663–1664. The extended parlour portion of the house was completed roughly 19 years later.[9] Most of the home's exterior was reworked in 1841 with Gothic Revival style features. The interior of the house has since been restored to its colonial appearance.
Gedney House		Salem	1665	Shipwright Eleazer Gedney acquired the land for a house on April 20, 1664, and a construction date of 1665 was confirmed by dendrochronology in 2002.[10] While the oldest timbers date to 1664–1665, the house has since been modified to its present form. The south end lean-to (later replaced by 1800) was raised to accompany two stories in 1706, and the end wall facing the street was given a framed overhang. A complete gutting of the interior for conversion into apartments occurred before SPNEA acquired the property in 1967.[10]
House of the Seven Gables		Salem	1668	The House of the Seven Gables is a National Historic Landmark. Dendrochronology studies done in 2005 dated the oldest portions of the house to 1668.[11] Later additions to the house include a lean-to and kitchen ell at the back of the house by 1693. Georgian woodwork altered the parlor wing of the original house in 1723. The back part of the original structure was removed in 1794, and in the nineteenth century the decorative gables met the same fate as they were too old fashioned.[11] These were restored along with the original 17th century appearance sometime in the early 20th century.
Merchant–Choate House		Ipswich	1671	This seventeenth century home is also known as the "Tuttle House". Dendrochronological dating shows the earliest portions of the house were completed sometime in 1671 with later additions. The house was extended to the north a year later, and repairs were done to this extension after 1761. Physical evidence shows that two single cell one-and-one-half-story cottages were put together around a central chimney possibly as late as 1705. These structures were later raised to two stories, a lean-to and rear lateral extensions were likely added on during the 18th century.[12]
Deane Winthrop House		Winthrop	1675	Dendrochronology confirms that Deane Winthrop built the earliest portion of his house in 1675. This original portion consists of a "single cell" structure which is two and one half stories in height. An addition to the east side was later added by Winthrop in 1695 which widened the chimney bay. The only other known modification is a lean-to spanning the four easternmost bays which was added sometime in the 18th century. There is suspicion that the foundation of the house also dates to this period based on the construction used. This would mean that the house was possibly moved to its present location.[13]
John Capen House		Milton[lower-alpha 1]	1675	This house was originally built in Dorchester by John Capen in 1675.[14] As built, the structure consisted of an end chimney bay and a range of two side by side rooms. An additional room and chamber was added to the right of the chimney in the mid eighteenth century. Later additions were also added to the rear of the house along with a lean-to.[14] The house remained in the Capen family until 1909 when it was scheduled to be demolished. It was saved by Kenneth G. T. Webster, who purchased the house and moved it to Milton where it stood until 2006 when it was disassembled and unsuccessfully offered for sale when a new house was built on its site.[14]
Narbonne House		Salem	1675	The Narbonne House is located on the waterfront at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and owned by the National Park Service. Dendrochronology conducted in 2002 dated the oldest part of the house which faces west to 1675.[15] A separate story-and-one-half building with gambrel roof was attached to the original portion of the house sometime between 1725 and 1750.[15]
Whipple House		Ipswich	1677	The Whipple House is a National Historic Landmark which was dated using dendrochronology in 2002. The oldest parts of the house were shown to date to 1677 for a house that was two-and-one-half stories in height, featuring a facade gabble. Additions to the house have since been made which occurred in 1690, and later in 1790. The latter of these dates was a substantial addition at 24 feet in length east of the chimney that included a second facade gable. In 1928 the house was moved to its present location where it now serves as a museum.[16]
Coffin House		Newbury	1678	This house features one of the oldest extant examples of the principal rafter/common purlin roof.[17] The "Coffin" house (named after the original land owner) was dated using dendrochronology to 1678, with the oldest portion of the house being the south west ell. Later additions include a cross-wing on the north east side which was added in 1713.[17] The house became two official dwellings in 1785, when the Coffin brothers legally divided the structure.[18]
Balch House		Beverly	1680	The oldest portion of the Balch house was found to date to 1680 via dendrochronology study.[19] This home was originally a single room cottage one-and-one-half stories in height, with a now removed chimney bay. Later descendants of the Balch family constructed the single room two-story southern part of the house in 1721. The original portion of the house was raised to two stories, and attached to this newer portion which created a central chimney. Modern restoration work was undertaken in 1921–1922, and again in 1961–1962.[19]
Hart House		Ipswich	1680	Dendrochronology shows that the earliest portion of the "Hart" house dates to 1680.[20] The house as built was originally a two-and-one half story single room plan house, with a chimney bay on the east end. An addition was later added onto the opposite side of the chimney c. 1725. Restorations to the house to make it more original took place in 1902 when it was used as a guest house. The Hart House now serves as a tavern, minus a portion of the original structure that was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1930s as an exhibit.[20]
Cooper–Frost–Austin House		Cambridge	1681	The Cooper–Frost–Austin House was originally built as a single room structure with a chimney bay, and integral lean-to.[21] This two-and-one half story structure was later expanded with the addition of west rooms and lean-to behind them sometime after 1718.[21] It was around this time period that a one-story porch was also added. SPNEA acquired the house in 1912, and it was restored by architect Joseph Everett Chandler.[21]
Pierce House (Dorchester, Massachusetts)		Dorchester	1683	Dendrochronology has dated the oldest portion of the Pierce House to 1683.[22] This section is now located in the middle of the house as additions were added to the two-and-one half story single room plan structure. The house was extended to the west shortly after 1712 and a lean-to was added over time on the entire back side. Further additions were added to the east end of the home in 1765. The kitchen in the west portion of the lean-to was rebuilt and extended slightly to the north in the nineteenth century.[22]
20 White Place		Brookline	1683	The oldest parts of 20 White Place date to 1683, according to a dendrochronology study done in 2007.[23] This home was originally built as a single room structure, and was moved in 1854 to its present location. Its estimated that during this time the exterior was given its "Italianate" appearance.[23] Several one-story additions have since been added to the rear of the building. Interior changes include space rearrangement on both stories.[23] 20 White Place is now a private residence protected through Historic New England's stewardship easement program.[24]
Boardman House		Saugus	1692	Formerly known as the Scotch Boardman House, the Boardman House has been dated using dendrochronology to 1692.[25] Originally the home had a two-room plan, with a typical hall-and-parlor configuration around a central chimney stack. A lean-to kitchen was added to the house by 1696, and further modifications to the interior were undertaken in the early 1700s. Other than the reconstruction of the lean-to in 1731 the house has not undergone any major changes. The Boardman House now acts as a restored museum.[25]
Paine–Dodge House		Ipswich	1694	[26]
Parson Capen House		Topsfield	1694	Dendrochronology dates the Parson Capen House to 1694, when it was originally built as the parsonage for the local Congregational Church.[27][28] It was first owned by the Reverend Joseph Capen. The Topsfield Historical Society currently operates the Parson Capen House as a museum.[29]
Dwight–Derby House		Medfield	1697	The earliest portion of the Dwight–Derby House is the southwest block, which has been dated to 1697 using dendrochronology.[30] An extension in the form of a cross wing was added to the east side in 1713.[30] The town of Medfield bought the Dwight-Derby House in 1996, after which restorations took place. It was reported in July 2011 that the Dwight-Derby House was 75% restored to originality.[31]
Benjamin Abbot House		Andover	1711	Dendrochronology has determined that the eastern (right) side of the house was built in 1711.[32]
Old Garrison House		Rockport	1711	The "Old Garrison" house was dated to 1711 through dendrochronology done in 2004.[33] This test was only able to get a single core sample from a log to the left-hand end of the building due to numerous problems.[33] Local histories suggest that the house may in fact be older as an unverified date as early as 1675 has been given.
Captain Robert Haskell House		Beverly	1712	The original parts of the Robert Haskell House include the east rooms and chimney bay, which were built with an integral lean-to in 1712.[34] Dendrochronology shows that the western portion of the house was built later on another site in 1724 with an integral lean-to.[34] These two halves were joined together in Beverly at some point in time based on the side-by-side framing and differences in roof pitch. The lean-to on the east side has since been raised from its original height to two-stories.[34]
The Old Castle		Rockport	1712	Dendrochronology confirms that a build date of 1712 coincides with the home's deed history.[35] The house as built originally consisted of hall and parlor on either side of a central chimney with two chambers and an attic above. A small lobby entry with stairs was present at the front in the central bay.[35] The Old Castle received a back lean-to long kitchen in 1792 when the home was divided by two branches of the original owner's family. Eventually, both portions of the house were purchased by the town of Rockport in 1929.[35] This house is now a museum today.
Holt Hill Farmhouse		Andover	1714	[36]
Bardeen–Culver Barn	—	Dedham[lower-alpha 2]	1715	The Bardeen–Culver Barn was built no later than 1715 in West Newbury.[37] Three of the original four bays of the barn survive today with some of the reused posts dating before 1700. The barn was dismantled in 2003 and reassembled in Dedham to serve as a visitors center for the Fairbanks House.[37]
Bradford House		Kingston	1715	[38]
John Quincy Adams Birthplace		Quincy	1717	John Quincy Adams Birthplace dates to 1717 via dendrochronology, and was purchased by the Adams family in 1744.[39] This two-room plan building with a central chimney was bequeathed to John Quincy Adams in 1761.[39] An additional lean-to was added sometime in 1764 along with the door trim and secondary entrance. John Quincy Adams was born in this house in 1767, and lived in it until 1783. John Quincy Adam's Birthplace is now owned and operated as a museum by the Federal government of the United States through the National Park Service.
John Adams Birthplace		Quincy	1722	Oldest existing building within which a future President of the United States was born (John Adams, October 30, 1735)[40] The front portion of his birthplace was dated to 1722 by dendrochronology. Other portions of the house including the framing on the east side incorporates a number of reused timbers dating to the 1670s.[41] John Adams Birthplace is now owned and operated as a museum by the Federal government of the United States through the National Park Service.[40][41]
Bellingham–Cary House		Chelsea	1724	The earliest frontal portion of the Bellingham–Cary House dates to 1724 by dendrochronology study.[42] An extension was added to the rear of the house in 1765.[42] Further enlargements were made to the home until 1791 to create its present appearance.[43] This house is now a historic house museum which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Proctor House		Peabody[lower-alpha 3]	1727	Dendrochronology shows that the "Proctor" house was built no later than 1727.[44] This house is commonly associated with John Proctor, who was hung on August 19, 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony during the Salem Witch Trials. Historical records suggest that the house was actually built by Jon's son Thorndike as the third property on the family owned property.[45] Parts of the house date from the time of build in the 1720s to the 1900s as different families occupied the home.[44] While the Proctor House is now a private residence, the owners have shared their desire to open it up to the public.[44]
Old Town House		Marblehead	c. 1727	The town house was constructed in 1727 and was a replacement for the Old Meeting House on Franklin Street. The upper level of the building served as a town hall, while the lower level was originally used as a market. Today it is still used for public events, and the upper floor has the G.A.R. Museum.

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The following structures are claimed to have been built at or around the time attested.

• List of historic houses in Massachusetts
• First period houses in Massachusetts (1620–1659)
• First period houses in Massachusetts (1660–1679)
• Oldest buildings in the United States