Coffin House, 1678
14 High Road
Route 1A
Newbury, MA 01951
(978) 462-2634
CoffinHouse@HistoricNewEngland.org
Directions
Open: June through October 15
First and third Saturday of the month
Tours at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Admission: $5, Historic New England members and Newbury residents free
Click here for information about school programs for this site.
Coffin House chronicles the evolution of domestic life in rural
New England over three centuries. The structure, which contains the
family's furnishings, began as a simple dwelling built in the
post-medieval style. Tristam Coffin and his family lived, cooked and
slept in two or possibly three rooms; their possessions were few.
About 1700, the house was more than doubled in size to provide
living space for a married son and his family. As the family grew,
partitions were added and lean-tos built so that different
generations could continue to live together under one roof.
In 1785, two Coffin brothers legally divided
the structure into two separate dwellings, each with its own kitchen
and living spaces. With rooms from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries,
Coffin House depicts the impact of an expanding economy and new
concepts, such as the notion of privacy, on architecture and modes of living.
While in Newbury, visit the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm less than a
mile away. There are also two Historic New England properties nearby -- The Swett-Ilsley House
and the Dole-Little House.
Directions: Take I-95 to Route 113, Newburyport.
Route 113 turns into Route 1A (High Road). Follow Route 1A for 3.3
miles. Coffin House is on the right, just before the church.
New in 2008: visit any of our Newbury & Newburyport partners for a special discount.
Just show your Historic New England member card and save!
Discounts are available at the following partners:
Clark Currier Inn
45 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
Tel: (978) 465-8363
20% off overnight stay (2 night weekend minimum Apr.-Dec.)
Jan, Feb, March, second night 50% off.
Ould Towne Gardens
157 High Rd., Newbury 01951
Tel: (978) 499-0038
20% off plants only
A Loom With a View
31R Pleasant Street
Newburyport MA 01950
Tel: (978) 463-9276
15% off
Plum Island Kayak
38R Merrimac Street - Unit 101 B
Newburyport, MA 01950
Tel: (978) 462-5510
20% off regular daily tours
For full details on membership discounts, please visit our 2008 North Shore member discount page.
Discover more about the Coffin House in the Historic New
England magazine archives:
