The house (1796) was the work of architect Charles Bulfinch and Harrison Gray Otis, lawyer, speculator and politician. The first of three Federal-style houses, it reflects the refined taste of the upper classes during the early years of the Republic. The second-story Palladian windows attenuate the facade. Exquisite period furniture, ornate moldings, hand-blocked borders and a freestanding staircase adorn the interior.