Union Oyster House

Union Oyster House Photo from National Historic Landmarks collection

Staff of Union Oyster House, 1919 Photo courtesy of Union Oyster House

The Atwood family is known to have operated a number of oyster shops in Boston since at least 1818. Originally known as Atwood's Oyster House, the restaurant became Atwood & Hawes from approximately 1842 to 1860 and Atwood & Bacon from the late 1800s to 1916. At this point, it is believed that the open coal range on which oysters were roasted was installed in the kitchen. By 1916 the establishment was simply referred to as Union Oyster House, the name it holds today.

After 87 years in business the Atwood family sold the oyster house in 1913 to the Fitzgerald family who owned the property until at least 1927. The Greaves brothers of Nova Scotia, Canada, owned the property by 1940 and began to operate satellite branches in other parts of town. The restaurant itself had been expanded in 1933 when a second floor dining room seating 50 persons opened. In 1941, the oyster house opened three new dining rooms on the second floor and installed a new kitchen and bakery with all new cooking and dishwashing equipment. The Greaves sold the restaurant in 1970 to Joseph Milano, whose family continues to run the renowned restaurant today.

Union Oyster House, 1915 Photo courtesy of Union Oyster House

Union Oyster House consists of the original 1716-17 building and two adjoining brick row houses. However, the adjoining buildings, while dating from 1851 and 1916, were not incorporated into the restaurant until the late 20th century. The original restaurant is a five-bay, three-and-a-half story gambrel-roofed building in the Georgian style. The form of the building is unusual—the three southern most-bays face Union Street while the two northern-most bays face Marshall Street. The two facades are connected by a vertical joint line in the brick work. Prior to becoming an oyster house, the building was a private residence and later a dry goods store.

Historic interior of Union Oyster House as it appears today Photo from National Historic Landmark collection

The interior section of the original oyster house retains an unusually high degree of integrity. The soapstone oyster bar and stall-type booths are the only known survivors in the United States. The oyster bar is an open semi-circular oak counter with a soapstone inner shucking table and drain. However, the soapstone slab was covered with copper sheet metal by at least the 1940s, most likely to comply with health codes. The bar is surrounded by nine stools fastened to the floor; the tops are flat wooden discs supported by cast iron poles.

Famous patrons include Senator Daniel Webster who was a regular in the 1840s and 1850s; Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and William J. Clinton, as well as governors, athletes, and stage and screen stars visiting Boston. In fact, booth 18 on the second floor was a favorite of President Kennedy's and was dedicated to his memory in 1977.

The Union Oyster House is located at 41 Union St. in Boston. It is open for business Sunday- Thursday 11:00am to 9:30pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:00am to 10:00pm. For further information call 617-227-2750 or visit the website.

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