The Tour

400 Beacon Street was the final home of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science—and one of the most well-known women in the U.S. in the early 1900s. Walking into the house today, you will step back to 1908, to the time when Mrs. Eddy and her household moved into this gracious building. More than a private residence, it served as the executive headquarters of the Christian Science movement from 1908 to 1910. As such, it was both home and workplace to the approximately 20 men and women who worked alongside Mrs. Eddy.

Through engaging exhibits and informative guides, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Mrs. Eddy’s labors and achievements during this period—including founding The Christian Science Monitor, a daily newspaper—as well as the details of day-to-day life in the early 20th century.

Tour duration: 90 minutes

Buy Tickets

Location

400 Beacon St.
Chestnut Hill,  MA 02467

Admission

Adults (18+): $20
Youths (7–17): $10
Children (under 7): Free
Members: Free (Click here for membership information)
For groups of 10 or more, please call 617.278.9000.

Hours

Nov. 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025

Guided tours only by prior appointment.
Please call 617.278.9000 to schedule a tour.
Minimum 72-hour (three-day) notice required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the main house and carriage house are accessible. The tour involves standing, walking, some climbing of stairs, and only limited opportunity for sitting. (An elevator is available for those needing it, as are a few folding chairs at some locations.) If a wheelchair is needed, please indicate this when you purchase tickets. In addition, please call Longyear’s Visitor Services to secure a chair (617.278.9000).

Backpacks and large bags are not permitted. We encourage you to leave even small bags in our lockers, but any bag larger than 4 by 7 inches must be stored there before you start the house tour.

Food or drinks, including water bottles and children’s drink containers, are not permitted inside the main house or the carriage house.

Yes. Photography taken from a handheld device is permitted for personal use. Flash photography is not allowed, nor is the use of selfie sticks. No photos or videos, whether of the inside or outside, may be used or published in print or online for any commercial, academic, or other purposes.

Strollers are not permitted in the house, and parents should plan on carrying very young children during the tour. Strollers are permissible when touring the grounds and carriage house.

Directions and Parking

Address:

400 Beacon St.
Chestnut Hill,  MA 02467

Parking:

Free parking at the house

The Story

Mrs. Eddy had been living at Pleasant View, her home in Concord, New Hampshire, for over 15 years when she made the decision to move back to the Boston area. In late January 1908, she and her household staff took up residence here at 400 Beacon Street. Her home was a center of activity for the Christian Science movement and continues to stand as a testament to her role as its Leader.

The layout of her second-floor study here closely mirrors her former work space at Pleasant View, with her desk surrounded by a bay of windows looking out across the grounds. From this study in July 1908, just months after arriving here, Mrs. Eddy directed the officers of her church to immediately set about publishing a daily newspaper. And five months later, on November 25, 1908, this is where she opened and read the first issue of The Christian Science Monitor.

Here, she also made final edits to many of her writings, including the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Additionally, she published a collection of poetry, authorized the first translation of Science and Health into another language (German), and produced a stream of pastoral letters, articles, and messages to her church and the world. With the addition of final By-laws to the Manual of The Mother Church, she also helped cement in place the structure that would carry her church forward when she was no longer present to guide it.

This would be Mrs. Eddy’s final home. She passed away here in her ninetieth year, on December 3, 1910.

The House

The original house was built circa 1880, designed by the renowned Boston firm of Peabody and Stearns. Mrs. Eddy, the third owner of the property, purchased it in 1907. She had it extensively remodeled under the supervision of Chicago architect Solon S. Beman, who had collaborated on The Mother Church Extension. The house was nearly doubled in size to accommodate her growing staff, which by then averaged about 20 people.

Through generous donations, Longyear Museum purchased the house from The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in 2006. In 2016, The Mother Church donated many of the remaining furnishings, and later added artwork and other artifacts. The house has since undergone a complete restoration and is open for tours.

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