Essex Insitiute Historic District

The Essex Institute museum and library with the six historic buildings and outbuildings, all on contiguous property, form an historic distriet. It is bounded to the south by Essex Street, to the east by Washington Square West and to the north by Brown Street. The Massachusetts National Guard Armory forms the western boundary. This district covers about two acres. Facing Essex Street to the east of the Armory are the two main Institute buil- dings, the one on the left housing the offices and collections and the other containing the library. These buildings, both of which are red brick with low hip roofs and massive bracketed cornices, were built in 1857 and 1851 respectively.

Formerly separate, they are now joined by a 1907 one-bay brick structure, which contains the main entrance, those in the other buildings either removed or closed off. The 1857 structure (134 Essex Street) was influenced by the Italian Villa style. It is two stories high (the second floor equal in height to two full floors and containing the large exhibition room and gallery). On the three-bay front facade the long windows of the second floor are round-headed. On the first floor two smaller windows, headed by segmental arches, are separated by a large granite arched window, formerly the front entrance. This is centered in a slight projection and has a balustraded balcony, over which is a shelf-like projection which continues as a cornice between the two stories.

The adjoining 1851 library (132 Essex Street) to the east of the connecting unit, is an equally imposing five-bay, three story structure, built in the Renaissance Revival style, with sandstone corner quoins and trim. The windows on the first and second floors are headed by heavy entablatures while those on the third floor have segmental arches with keystones.

The Essex Institute is a collection of books and manuscripts, portraits and paintings, furniture and furnishings, and period houses. It contains, in the words of its charter, the authentic memorials relating to the civil history of Essex County and of the eminent men who have resided within its limits from the first settlement through the eminent men who have resided wthin the 19th century. It thus provides more materials for an accurate history of this part of our Commonwealth than may be found in any other single place. Founded in 1848 by the joining together of the Essex Historical Society and the Essex County Natural History Society, the Institute is housed in imposing brick buildings dating from the 1850's.

In addition to the main buildings, the Essex Institute owns eight historic structures, two of which are on Federal Street and are not included in this certifi- cation. The remainder are all on property contiguous to the main building. Immediately to the east is the Gardner-Pingree House, built for John Gardner at 128 Essex Street in 1804. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of the work of Samuel McIntire, Salem architect, builder and woodcarver, representing his mature work in the fully developed neo-classical Federal style. This house has been designated a National Historic Landmark. NAL Next door, on the corner, is the Crowninshield-Bentley House. This hand- some gambrel roofed house was built in 1727 for John Crowninshield.

At least four generations of his famous mercantile family lived here over a period of 105 years. The Reverend William Bentley, clergyman, scholar and diarist, boarded here from 1791 to 1819. Pastor of the East Church in Salem, the Reverend Bentley was deeply involved in the intellectual and political life of the community.