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Welcome to the Commandant’s House (Quarters G) at the Charlestown Navy Yard! Completed in 1805, this building served as the home to the commandant and his family for almost 170 years.1 As head of the Navy Yard, and later the First Naval District, the commandant not only managed his military duties, but he also served as a public figure representing the United States Navy. He hosted special guests, participated in community organizations, and attended various events.2 While the commandant managed these roles, other lesser-known individuals worked within the home and on the surrounding property to uphold the stature of the commandant. Most of these people worked as civilian employees of the Navy Yard; others served in the Navy; and some traveled with the commandants as their personal servants. These individuals came from various backgrounds yet worked with a common purpose. Today, the Commandant’s House stands as one of the oldest structures of the historic Charlestown Navy Yard. Through this virtual tour, learn about the iconic features of this house and the people who lived and worked here. Explore the Commandant's House through the immersive virtual tour below. Navigate the building on your own and click on points that provide information behind paintings and architectural elements of the building. Or, watch an audio-described walk-through video of the space. Full descriptions and sources are at the bottom of the page.
Who were the Commandants?The officers who became commandants of the Navy Yard typically held high-ranking positions in the US Navy. Frequently, they received this posting as their last assignment before retirement. Some commandants held this position for as little as one year or as long as eight years, but on average these officers worked as commandants for two to four years. In the 1800s, these officers mainly served as naval captains or commodores. A few of them also commanded USS Constitution while running the Navy Yard.3 In the 1900s, the commandants usually held the ranking of rear admiral. By 1945, the Charlestown Navy Yard–also known as the Boston Navy Yard or Boston Naval Shipyard at the time–became the center of the First Naval District of the US Navy. With this shift, the commandant of the First Naval District lived at the Commandant’s House with the commandant of the Navy Yard living elsewhere in the yard.4 As head of the First Naval District, the commandant oversaw military and industrial naval matters across New England. The commandant lived and worked here at the Commandant’s House until the Navy Yard’s closure in 1974. Over the years, the US Navy has recognized several of the officers who served as commandant at the Navy Yard, including naming over 20 ships after former commandants. Also, in 1958, the Navy installed a plaque listing the previous residents of the Commandant’s House and continued to update this plaque until the Yard’s closure.5 General SourcesAlbee, Peggy A., “The Commandant's House Historical Structure Report,” Boston, Massachusetts: Boston National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, April 1990. Carlson, Stephen P. Charlestown Navy Yard Historic Resource Study, Vol 1. Boston, MA: Division of Cultural Resources Boston National Historical Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010. HRS Vol 1 - NPSHistory.com. Carlson, Stephen P. Charlestown Navy Yard Historic Resource Study, Vol 2. Boston, MA: Division of Cultural Resources Boston National Historical Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010. HRS Vol 2 - NPSHistory.com. Carlson, Stephen P. Charlestown Navy Yard Historic Resource Study, Vol 3. Boston, MA: Division of Cultural Resources Boston National Historical Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010. HRS Vol 3 - NPSHistory.com. Micholet, Margaret. Public Place, Private Home: A Social History of the Commandant’s House at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Boston, Massachusetts: Boston National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, April 1986. Public Place, Private Home - NPSHistory.com. Stevens, Christoper, Margie Coffin Brown, Ryan Reedy and Patrick Eleey. “Cultural Landscape Report for Charlestown Navy Yard.” Boston, MA: National Park Service Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, 2005. Cultural Landscape Report - NPSHistory.com. Image Sources: Any photo credits that begin with "BOSTS" refer to the Boston National Historical Park archival collection. Full Text and SourcesExteriorThe Commandant's House, also known as Quarters G, stands as one of the oldest buildings in the Charlestown Navy Yard. A few years after the Yard’s establishment in 1800 as one of the first six navy yards in the country, Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith requested plans for a “Brick House of suitable dimensions for the residence of the Superintendent of the navy yard.”1 The approved design, likely created by architect George Hadfield, featured a double-bowed facade.2 While today this double-bowed facade serves as the front of the Commandant’s House, this side acted as the back of the house at the time of its construction while the front door faced Chelsea Street. The first Superintendent of the Navy Yard, Captain Samuel Nicholson (1800-1811), moved in upon the house’s completion in 1805. By 1808, this position became known as the “Commandant.”3 The first known depiction of the Commandant’s House likely dates to the early 1820s (above). While the attribution of the painting simply states, “Mrs. James Armstrong,” she may have been Hannah Crowninshield Armstrong, a local artist and the wife of Navy Lieutenant James Armstrong.4 This painting of the Commandant’s House shows the house’s prominent stature on the landscape at the time, as well as depicts the early construction of the facade.5 The original house had a simple design with the double-bowed facade that included several windows. Over the following decades, commandants requested funds from the Navy to update and alter various aspects of the house, including funding for the balcony and exterior stairwell. Image Caption(Courtesy of U.S. Naval Academy Museum) Visual DescriptionPainting of a hilly landscape with prominent buildings scattered across. In the center is a tall building with a double-owed facade. A tree-lined path leads to the building, and fences and trees line the grounds and road in front. Sources
While today we can enjoy the striking red brick exterior of the Commandant's House, commandants historically chose to paint this architectural feature. The first few commandants quickly questioned the construction quality of the house and how it would survive the elements. Leaks proved to be a significant issue, which commandants tried to solve by painting the brick exterior. Re-painting the house also resulted in a temporary appearance upgrade, especially since the exterior repeatedly got covered by soot, dust, and grime caused by the bustling shipyard. For these reasons, commandants regularly painted the house throughout the 1800s and early 1900s.1 The commandant in the early 1920s, Rear Admiral Henry Wiley (1921-1923), requested approval to restore the brick to its original appearance. While initially costly, Commandant Wiley argued that the restoration would save the Navy money in the long run by no longer having to repaint the house. Also, Wiley believed the restoration of the original brick would enhance the look of the house. Although Wiley's request failed, by 1930 the Navy agreed to restore the original bricks of the house.2 Image CaptionThis 1874 photo and 1901 photo depict the painted brick exterior of the Commandant's House. (BOSTS 9181-2; BOSTS 9182) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A large house with a double-bowed facade. The windows have shutters and awnings, and wraparound porch is partially hidden by dense greenery and trees. A tall pole with a birdhouse on top stands in front. Image 2: A brick building with a double-bowed facade is painted white. In front of the building, there is a gated fence, pergola, and guardhouse. A man in uniform walks in front of the gated entrance under the pergola. Sources
First constructed in 1825 as a balcony and later expanded, this porch provided the commandants with a view of the Navy Yard. Here, he could see the growing shipyard as well as Boston Harbor. A few of the structures within the immediate view of the Commandant's House date to the early years of the Navy Yard. To the left of the house stands the Marine Barracks (1811), the oldest extant Marine Barracks in the country; in front sits Dry Dock 1 (1833), one of the Navy's first dry docks; and to the right stands Building 5 (1816), a building that has served various roles over the years but today houses the National Park Service's Visitor Center. The Navy Yard opened in 1800 with just over 35 acres of land. By 1973, just before its closure, the Navy Yard consisted of almost 130 acres.1 As the oldest extant structure in the shipyard, the Commandant’s House stood constant as the Navy transitioned from constructing ships of wood to those of steel. Image CaptionView from the porch ca. 1946. Historical prints of the Marine Barracks (1856) and Dry Dock 1 (1851). Building 5 in 1921. (Terry Harrington; Ballou's Pictorial, August 16, 1856; Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion, v. 1 1851; BOSTS-9258-5780) Visual DescriptionImage 1: View from a porch, overlooking a manicured lawn lined with a few trees. Piles of industrial material lie on the ground beyond the manicured lawn. In the distance are buildings and ships in the harbor. Image 2: Engraving of grounds in front of a cluster of buildings, some multi-story. Rows of soldiers assembled in formation are in the center. Trees surround the area, and in the foreground, a man in uniform oversees a worker. Below is the text, “The Parade Ground and Barracks.” Image 3: Engraving of a large wooden ship in a drydock, with scaffolding and workers surrounding it. Sails and masts of other ships are visible behind the docked ship. A long three-story building with a small cupola stands alongside the dock. Below is the text, “View of the Naval Dry Dock, At The U.S. Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass.” Image 4: A long, three-story brick building stands with a flagpole above its entrance. Several chimneys rise from the roof, and an exterior fire escape is attached to the side. Early automobiles are parked along the street next to the building. Text on the photo reads: "Navy Yard, Boston. Museum, Library, etc., Bldg 5. From E. Feb. 18, 1921. 5780." Sources
As the shipyard expanded, commandants maintained the immediate land around the Commandant’s House as gardens. This setting of flourishing plants, flowers, trees, and lawns stood in stark contrast to the industrial Navy Yard.1 The grounds largely covered the area to the west of the house, as well as the land between the house and what is known as Second Avenue in the Navy Yard.2 Fences, trees, and hedges have marked the transition between the house’s beautiful grounds and the Navy Yard. A walkway led from the back of the house (the double-bowed side) to the road. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, a pergola covered this walkway, and, later, a sentry house stood at the entrance. By the 1920s, both had been removed.3 Image CaptionThe Commandant’s House grounds extended around the house and included various gardens. A 1901 photo depicts the guard booth and pergola that the Navy later removed. (BOSTS-9188; BOSTS-9187-2; BOSTS-9182) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Aerial view of a dense city neighborhood, with an elevated highway cutting across the center. In the foreground sits a large building amongst a large lawn and trees, with a few other large buildings nearby. Image 2: Angled view of a large brick building with a wraparound porch with arches, and multiple staircases sits on landscaped grounds with short, bare trees. Behind the house is a long granite wall, separating the building from other buildings in the background. Image 3: A brick building with a double-bowed facade is painted white. In front of the building, there is a gated fence, pergola, and guardhouse. A man in uniform walks in front of the gated entrance under the pergola. Sources
To fill the grounds, commandants hired gardeners to nurture trees and plants. Some of these commandants extended their efforts to beautify the landscape into the Navy Yard itself. Over the years, commandants arranged for the planting of poplar, elm, and fruit trees within the house’s garden and along walkways in the Navy Yard.1 The 1852 print included above depicts the abundance of plants in the garden behind the house.2 The arrangement of the garden and the variety of plants changed over the years based on current trends and the occupants of the house. Commandants hired between one and six gardeners to maintain the landscape of the Commandant House grounds.3 In the late 1920s, civil engineer William Otis and his assistant William Donnell led a project to improve the gardens and the Navy Yard grounds at large, under Rear Admiral Philip Andrews (1925-1930). They planted hundreds of trees throughout the yard, including pear and apple trees in the house’s garden. Here, they also oversaw a vegetable garden and a variety flowers, such as roses.4 The dust and grime produced by the active shipyard took a toll on the beauty of the house’s gardens. When Rear Admiral Joseph Wellings (1962-1963) lived in the house, the gardeners had to remove the filth from the vegetables and flowers and thoroughly clean them before bringing them inside.5 Image CaptionThe gardens of the Commandant’s House changed over the years based on the preferences of the commandants. This 1852 print, and photos from the 1940s and 1950s respectively, demonstrate these changes. (BOSTS-9180, printed in Gleason’s Pictorial; BOSTS-9189; BOSTS-9191) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Engraving of a large house with a double-bowed facade and double-staircase is partly hidden by trees and other greenery. A taller man walks with a small child along a path in front of the fence before the house. At the bottom is the text, “Commodore’s House and Garden, at the Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass.” Image 2: A formal garden viewed from the steps leading down to a brick walkway. The lawn has a circular grass feature, flower beds around the edges. Lampposts, shrubs and hedges border the walkway and garden. Image 3: A large brick building with a white wraparound porch with tall arched windows. Two staircases lead up to opposite sides of the balcony. Trees frame and partially cover the building, and a garden with blooming bushes are in the gardens in front. Sources
While animals, such as horses and oxen, worked in the shipyard, some commandants had farm animals of their own. These animals-horses, cows, chickens, or turkeys-may have been housed in the Carriage House (Building 21), or the barn on the southeast part of the grounds (Building 20).1 Other animals also enjoyed the Navy Yard and the house’s grounds. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and rats could frequently be found throughout the Yard. Due to the dirt and grime of the yard, light colored cats and dogs would look gray.2 One commandant in the 1890s viewed the stray dogs as a problem and prohibited anyone from bringing a dog into the Yard without his approval.3 In 1918, towards the end of World War I, marines chased a couple rabbits who had escaped through the house’s gardens. These rabbits ended up hiding in a flower bed. As reported in a newspaper article, “One of the marines remarked that it would have been a much easier job to trap the Germans than it was to trap the two rabbits.”4 Over the years, commandants and their families, as well as other officers, brought pets with them to the Navy Yard. Commodore Foxhall Parker Jr. (1876-1878) had a pet parrot who frequently perched on a post near the entrance to the garden; he possibly even used the bird house depicted in this 1874 photo of the house.5 As the story goes, the parrot would warn those nearby when the commandant approached, shouting a phrase he picked up from the Navy Yard workers: “Shinnie hain, big snatch block, here comes the old man.”6 Image CaptionBirds, maybe even a parrot, likely enjoyed this birdhouse in the garden of the Commandant's House. (BOSTS 9181-2) Visual DescriptionA large house with a double-bowed facade. The windows have shutters and awnings, and wraparound porch is partially hidden by dense greenery and trees. A tall pole with a birdhouse on top stands in front. Sources
Other buildings sat on the Commandant’s House grounds that supported the needs of the family and upkeep of the house and gardens. To the southeast of the Commandant’s House stands a shed, today used by the National Park Service’s grounds crew. The first resident of the house, Captain Samuel Nicholson (1800-1811), wanted to build a barn or stable on the grounds, but the Navy denied his request.1 However, in the 1820s, the Navy approved the construction of additional structures on the property. In 1821, workers constructed a large wooden barn southeast of the house.2 The wooden barn later served as a tool shed (known as Building 20), before the Navy tore it down in 1922. In its place the Navy built a garage (Building 245), which the house’s gardeners used as a shed. The Navy moved this structure to the northwest side of the grounds in 1961. It stood in that location until the National Park Service moved it back to its original location in 1980.3 Image CaptionThe first two photos depict Building 20 in 1921, prior to its demolition. The Navy later replaced it with Building 245, the building in the far right corner of the last photo. (BOSTS-9284-5819; BOSTS-9284-5818; BOSTS-9191-489). Visual DescriptionImage 1: A dark, wooden two-story building identified with one tall window. Leafless trees line the sidewalk in the foreground, and the Commandant’s House is visible next to it. Text in the bottom corner reads: “Navy Yard, Boston. Tool Storage Bldg 20 from S.E. Mar. 18, 1921, 5819.” Image 2: A long wooden building has a few small windows. It is surrounded by leafless trees and shrubs, and a small lawn in front. Text in the bottom corner reads: “Navy Yard, Boston. Tool Storage, Bldg20 from S. Mar. 18, 1921. 5818” Image 3: A large brick building with white trim has a wraparound porch with three tall arched windows in the center. Leafless trees line the grounds and surround the building. Hedges line a paved walkway in front of the grounds. Sources
Other buildings on the Commandant’s House grounds supported the house and gardens. To the northeast of the house stands the remnants of the Carriage House (Building 21). The construction of this building came from the desire for a barn or stable near the house. Captain Samuel Nicholson (1800-1811), the first superintendent or commandant of the Navy Yard, asked for funds to construct a barn to house a few cows, horses, and oxen. While denied this request by the Navy, Nicholson did receive approval to build a shed or stable with his own money.1 In the 1820s, the Navy approved the construction of additional structures on the property, including a stable. The Navy built the Carriage House (Building 21) to the northeast of the house, along the new granite wall.2 The use of the Carriage House adapted to the needs of the commandant and the Navy Yard. By the 1870s, and over the following decades, it acted as a watch house, quartered the commandant’s servants, and, lastly, included a greenhouse.3 Having a greenhouse allowed commandants and their families to enjoy flowers and plants throughout the year. Captain John Nicolson (1842-1845) built the first greenhouse in the 1840s. Realizing they had never approved this structure, the Navy tore it down in the 1860s. By 1874, a new greenhouse had been added to the Carriage House.4 This greenhouse allowed gardeners to cultivate various plants for the commandants. Gardener Tom Little grew carnations here for Commandant Rear Admiral John McCrea (1952-1953), as well as planted a vegetable garden nearby. In 1963, this greenhouse addition had to be torn down due to deterioration.5 When the National Park Service became stewards of the Navy Yard after its closure, they continued to use the Carriage House until it fell into disrepair in the 2000s. Image CaptionThis 1916 photo depicts the greenhouse in fully use. Over time, it deteriorated, as the following two photos from 1963 demonstrated. (BOSTS-9285; BOSTS-9286-4547; BOSTS-9286-4560) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A greenhouse with a slanted glass paneled roof is attached to a stone building marked with a “21” sign. Text in the bottom corner is partially cut off but reads: “Navy Yard Bost. Green House at. From S. Apr. 2299A.” Image 2: Close-up view of a greenhouse with a white wooden frame and glass panels. The door stands open, revealing plants inside. Trees and a large building are visible in the background. Image 3: A greenhouse with a glass panel roof set in a white wooden frame is attached to a stone building. The door and window panes in front are missing, leaving the structure open and plants visible inside.Text on the bottom of the image is partially cut-off and reads: “Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Deterioration of Greenhouse 8/24/63.” Sources
When the Navy decided to extend the granite wall in front of the house during World War II, they needed to determine a new entry for the Commandant’s House. The most straightforward solution proved to be the west side of the house, as a driveway had already been extended from Second Avenue to this side in 1911. This previous project had also included the addition of a stairway leading up to the porch so visitors could enter the house.1 In 1950, Captain R. Morgan Watt Jr. (1949-1950) requested funds to improve this new ground level entrance to the house. He wanted to create an entry reception area o ff the driveway that also provided a cloakroom and bathroom. The Navy approved a smaller scale version of the proposal in 1951, which is the entry way you see today.2 Image CaptionThis 1963 photo depicts the current entry way to the house.(BOSTS-9192-7212) Visual DescriptionA building wall is covered in ivy with a paved driveway in front. Its entrance is covered with a fabric awning. Above, a long balcony with railings runs the length of the building, partially shaded by large trees. Sources
Like the guests visiting the house, the commandant himself also required the use of this and previously created driveways. Since the 1800s, a chauffeur ensured the safe transportation of the commandant to wherever he needed to go. Initially, the chauffeur used a carriage with horses, then switched to fully using a car between the 1910s and 1920s.1 A Works Progress Administration (WPA) project constructed a Garage and Chauffeur’s Quarters (Building 1) in 1936, to the far west of the house. This L-shaped structure had three garages and a small residence for the chauffeur.2 A civilian navy yard worker held the position of chauffeur until 1950, when the Navy replaced the position with a Marine who also served as an escort for the commandant.3 From 1956-1959, Sergeant William Hughes served Rear Admiral John Snackenberg (1954-1958) as the chauffeur. His day included: picking up the commandant at the beginning of the day, driving the commandant to his office, and returning the commandant home for meals and at the end of the day. Sergeant Hughes also took on other responsibilities, such as managing the commandant’s schedule, delivering messages, and taking care of any additional needs.4 Image DescriptionThe commandant and his guests used this driveway when coming to the house. It also appears that some children in the 1950s viewed this driveway as a perfect place to sled. In 1936 the WPA updated Building 1 to include garages and chauffeur’s quarters. Part of this building remains today with a sign recognizing its past. (BOSTS-9194-12340; BOSTS-9192; BOSTS-9250-679; NPS Photo) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A broad paved driveway leads up to a large brick building with a balcony. It is bordered by landscaped greenery and large shade trees. An elevated highway is visible in the background. Image 2: Two children lay on sleds in a large patch of heavy snow in front of a brick building. In the background are snow covered trees without leaves, and an elevated highway. Image 3: A brick building with three sets of carriage doors to garages and an open alcove to the right. An addition above has three large windows that are 19 panes across and 5 panes tall. Text along the bottom of the photo reads: “679-36 Boston Navy Yard. 28 Aug 1936. WPA Project 09-2-Repair and Improvement of Buildings. Extension to Building #1 for Garage and Chauffeur’s quarters. Looking west. Work completed.” Image 4: A white rectangular historic sign on a brick wall above an alcove. It has two starts side by side centered on the top with text below stating in all caps: “Commandants Transportation.” Sources
InteriorThis sunroom provided later commandants and their families, such as Rear Admiral Carl Espe (1958-1962) and his wife Hilda Espe (seen above), with additional living and entertainment space. During the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) addressed several construction needs around the Navy Yard, including projects to improve the Commandant’s House. Throughout the spring and summer of 1936, WPA workers replaced the house’s balcony and porch, creating a new sunroom with porches on either side. Almost 100 years earlier in 1825, workers added the first balcony to the house. Commandants had the balcony fixed as needed and eventually had it expanded to include an enclosed porch. The WPA brought the opportunity to make significant improvements to this outdoor space. WPA workers installed brick piers and arches to provide more support to the new sunroom and porches. They also created concrete stairs leading up to the porches on either side of the sunroom.1 The sunroom, with its large arched window design, made for a striking addition to this side of the Commandant’s House. Image CaptionRear Admiral Carl Espe (1958-1962) and his wife Hilda Espe enjoyed the sunroom while living in the house. Years earlier, the Commandant’s House had a covered porch before the WPA replaced the old porch with a sunroom and porches on either side. (BOSTS-9195; BOSTS-9183-2; BOSTS-9185-4; BOSTS-9185-498; BOSTS-9185-681) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A sunroom with large windows, plants, and wicker-style furniture. A man in uniform stands with his arm resting on the window as he looks out. A woman sits on a chair looking up at the man near the window, and another person leans against the doorway in the background. Image 2: A brick building with a double-rounded facade, wrap around porch, and two staircases leading to the entrance, is surrounded by trees and hedges. A tall obelisk monument is in the background. Image 3: The large brick building with a double-bowed facade is surrounded by wooden scaffolding and platforms, and workers can be seen on multiple levels of it. A staircase leads down to a landscaped lawn in the foreground. The caption at the bottom reads: “Navy Yard, Boston, Mass. June 2 1936. WPA Project #09-02 – Repair and Improvement of Buildings. Installation of Sun Porch, Quarters G. View looking northwest.” Image 4: Workers and scaffolding surround a large building with a double-bowed facade. In front is a partially completed porch with tall arched windows. Multiple people work on different levels of the scaffolding. A staircase leads down to the landscaped lawn in the foreground. The caption at the bottom reads: “498-36 Boston Navy Yard. June 16 1936. WPA Project #09-02 – Repair and Improvement of Buildings. Installation of Sun Porch, Quarters ‘G.’ View looking northwest.” Image 5: The large brick building with a rounded facade has a large wraparound white porch with tall arches windows front and center. Twin staircases with railings descend symmetrically from the porch to the landscaped lawn below, which is planted with flowers and shrubs. The caption at the bottom reads: “681-36 Boston Navy Yard. 28 Aug 1936. WPA Project #09-2 – Repair and Improvement of Buildings. Installation of Sun Porch, Quarters ‘G.’ Work completed. View looking northwest.” Sources
While the commandant and his wife used their home to host distinguished political, military, and foreign leaders, they also held events here to establish camaraderie among fellow officers and families stationed at the Navy Yard as well as strengthen their ties to the local community. For example, in the 1860s, Ann Rodgers, the wife of the commandant, held “hops” on Wednesday evenings. These dances featured a quintet from the Navy Yard band, and she served ice cream and sangaree to the guests.1 Similarly, Mrs. Wellings, wife of Rear Admiral Joseph Wellings (1962-1963), remembered: I had small groups of wives. I would have about 10 in for lunch. And I would get to know them better. And they’d get to know me. And it was lots of fun.2 Commandants also held monthly “stag” luncheons, hosting state and local political leaders as well as other civic and business leaders. Following the meal, they smoked cigars and discussed pertinent issues of the day. At one of these luncheons, Rear Admiral Joseph C. Wylie (1969-1972) successfully mediated a labor conflict between the Teamsters and the Longshoremen, reaching a strike-avoiding agreement over a “couple bottles of Madeira.” “The upshot of it was they settled their argument,” said Wylie. The Commandant’s House, he explained, “was neutral ground, you see.”3 Other groups hosted in these rooms included booster clubs, the Girl Scouts, and local veteran organizations. The commandant’s wife would occasionally give tours to school groups and host different women’s organizations, including the Navy Relief Society. Smaller scale receptions for ship commissionings regularly occurred here as did the occasional wedding. The size and layout of these parlors allowed the Commandant’s House to become a crucial gathering place to build and sustain relationships with people and groups both within and beyond the Navy Yard.4 Image CaptionViews of southwest parlor, one showing the Espes. (BOSTS-9198; BOSTS-9197-1) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A living room with two sofas facing one another in front of a fireplace with a mirror above it. Two people, a woman in a dress and a man in a military uniform, stand together near a tall cabinet in front of a tall window with long draped curtains. Image 2: A living room with a floral-patterned sofa and a wooden table placed behind it, and a decorative fireplace with a large mirror above. The mantel holds a tall vase of flowers, and framed portraits are displayed on the table and nearby surfaces. A cabinet with glass doors is positioned against the wall. Sources
In addition to being a private residence, the Commandant’s House served a vital public role as a gathering space for official receptions, luncheons, and other special events. As a key representative of the US Navy, the commandant hosted numerous public officials, foreign officers, and other dignitaries in his home. Considered “homey and very easy to entertain in” by one commandant, these spacious parlors could accommodate both intimate groups and large-scale receptions and banquets.1 For example, in 1817, Commodore Issac Hull (1813-1822) held a breakfast here for two hundred people in honor of President James Monroe. Other dignitaries hosted here included military leaders, elected officials, Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette, and Presidents John Quincy Adams, Andrew Johnson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As Rear Admiral Richard Rumble (1972-1974) recalled, “this is a great house to have a reception. How can you lose with those two main reception rooms?”2 With these official ceremonies and celebrations, the commandant adeptly used his home to showcase the industrial work of the Navy Yard, the military might of the nation, and his diplomatic and influential role as a crucial liaison between the US Navy and the world at large.3 Image CaptionViews of the southeast parlor. The first photo shows Rear Admiral Carl F. Espe and his wife, Hilda Espe; the second photo shows Vida Benson, wife of Rear Admiral Roy S. Benson, with 2 Navy wives; the third photo shows the room furnished ca. 1918. (BOSTS-9201; BOSTS-9202-2; BOSTS-9199) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A large living room with high ceilings and tall windows draped with heavy curtains. A woman sits on one of two floral-patterned sofas while knitting. She looks at a man in a formal military uniform standing nearby, reading from a book. The room includes a fireplace with a mirror above it, multiple lamps, framed artwork on the walls, a grand piano, and additional upholstered chairs and tables. Image 2: Two women stand in a furnished room looking at a decorative ceramic bowl held by the woman on the right, who is smiling. The woman on the far left wears a light-colored short-sleeve dress, the woman in the center wears a dark plaid dress, and the woman on the right wears glasses and a buttoned dress with short sleeves. Image 3: A formal room with high ceilings, ornate trim, and dark curtains. A square table with a vase of flowers sits in the center, surrounded by wooden chairs and an upholstered sofa. The sofa faces the fireplace on the right, which is decorated with candles and floral arrangements. Framed artwork hangs on the walls, and a hanging light fixture is suspended above the table. Sources
Fireplaces initially provided the primary means of heating for the Commandant’s House. However, they proved insufficient in heating the house through cold New England winters. By 1841, naval commissioners approved the commandant’s request for central heating. Their willingness to pay for this emerging and expensive upgrade indicated the importance and high status of the commandant and his residence.1 Image CaptionView of the southwest parlor, showing the fireplace. (BOSTS-9197-2) Visual DescriptionLiving room with a white ornate fireplace with a large mirror above it has a tall vase of flowers on the mantel. In front of the fireplace are two floral upholstered sofas and a coffee table. A floor lamp and radio are in front of a tall window with heavy drapes and sheer curtains. Sources
The first floor functioned as the public space of the Commandant’s House and had to be maintained and ready, sometimes on short notice, to host various meetings and receptions. This need extended to the dining room which lent itself to more intimate formal dining affairs hosted by the commandant and his wife. Unlike the parlors, however, which largely remained unused by the family for daily life, the dining room also served as the family’s regular space for daily meals.1 Image CaptionViews of the dining room, one showing Hilda Espe ca. 1958-1962, the other from 1918. (BOSTS-9207-Espe; BOSTS-9204) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Formal dining room with a chandelier, bay windows, fireplace, and a table in the center. A woman in a dark dress arranges flowers on the table. Image 2: Dining room with a large round table and wooden chairs. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling, right above flowers in a vase on the table. The room has tall windows with heavy curtains, white cabinets, and a fireplace. Sources
In the butler’s pantries and kitchens of the house, stewards, attendants, and cooks worked behind the scenes to support the commandant and his family. Their essential work allowed for the commandant to host parties of distinguished guests and fellow naval officers. With the house staff fulfilling their duties, the wives of the commandants could focus on their roles outside the home, such as attending to social organizations and community service. Similar to the rest of the US Navy, the commandants of the Charlestown Navy Yard relied heavily on Asian and Pacific Islander stewards from Japan, the Philippines, and even Guam. For example, Commandant William Rush (1914-1919) employed Japanese and Filipino stewards in the house as part of his personal staff. Born in the Philippines, Gregorio Alcaraz worked for Rush both before and during his time as commandant. Goichi Kawamura, hailing from Japan, worked for Rush as a servant for nearly two decades. When Rush retired in 1919, so did Kawamura—he applied and became the first Japanese person to gain US citizenship in New England.1 Image Caption“Goichi Kawamura.” (Ancestry, US Passport Applications, 1920) Visual DescriptionPortrait photograph of an older man wearing a suit and bow tie. Above the photograph is a handwritten signature, “Goichi Kawamura.” Sources
Whether in the butler's pantry here or the former in the library and waiting room, the stewards ensured the commandant's parties, luncheons, and dinners met the highest standards. While the number of stewards in the house fluctuated over the years, many in the 1900s hailed from the Philippines. As US Nationals amid American colonial rule over the Philippines, Filipinos did not face the same exclusionary immigration laws as other immigrants in the early 1900s. The United States restricted Filipino immigration under the Philippine Independence Act of 1934, with the exception of those enlisting in the US Navy. Despite being limited to steward or mess attendant positions, many Filipinos joined the US Navy as a means toward upward mobility.1 At the Commandant's House, Filipino Fabian Calderon worked as a steward to Rear Admiral Samuel Robison (1919-1921). Calderon served dishes such as lobster, ham, fruits, ice cream, and cake alongside tea, coffee, and punch to foreign diplomats and officers. During Rear Admiral McCrea's (1952-1953) tenure, his two Filipino stewards Epi and Pique provided excellent service to him and his guests; he even called Roberto Epi a "pro" at entertainment.2 Stewards in the house had wide-ranging responsibilities, but their management of service during frequent visits from guests remained of the utmost importance. The Commandant's House served not only as a private home, but as a public venue and reflection of the US Navy. Image CaptionMariano Asencio served as a steward in the Commandant's House in 1940. (Ancestry, Petitions and Records of Naturalization, 1940) Visual DescriptionPortrait photograph of a man in a suit and bow tie with cropped dark hair. Beneath the photo is a handwritten signature, “Mariano Asencio.” Sources
In 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded the construction of an east wing onto the house. The two-story wing added a modern kitchen and butler’s pantry to the first floor and space for a steward to live on the ground floor below. The kitchen notably supported the public, official functions of the house. Having a large kitchen on the same floor as the dining room and entertainment parlors made for a more seamless transition from preparation to table for key events and visits. Commandants often had difficulties acquiring the proper supplies and appliances for the house’s kitchen. For instance, in the house’s original kitchen in the basement, Commandant Rush (1914-1919) wanted large capacity fridges in 1915 but had to settle for smaller ones because of budgetary restrictions. However, by the 1960s, the expanded kitchen space held multiple refrigerators and a “mammoth stove” with eight burners capable of cooking large quantities of food.1 Image CaptionThese photos show the progress of the kitchen expansion completed by the WPA. (BOSTS-9185; BOSTS-9185-808; BOSTS-9185-868; BOSTS-9185-928) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Brick wall with scaffolding, lumber, and a pile of dirt around. A worker in overalls and a cap stands on a raised platform in front, holding a tool. The caption at the bottom reads: “809-38 Boston Navy Yard. Oct 7 1938. Project 765-14-2-19. Addition to Qtrs. “G”. Looking north at north-east corner of quarters.” Image 2: View of a construction site from a balcony. Wooden scaffolding and beams are in front of a brick wall, with tools, planks, and a ladder scattered around the site. Two people are working on a slab of foundation. A greenhouse with a slanted glass roof stands nearby, while multi-story brick buildings and houses are seen in the background. The caption at the bottom reads: “808-38 Boston Navy Yard. Oc 7 1938. Project 765-14-2-19. Addition to Qtrs. “G”. Showing brickwork and concrete floor slab. Looking north.” Image 3: An extension protrudes off a brick building, surrounded by wooden scaffolding. Workers are on the scaffolding near window openings and on the ground near ladders. The site’s grounds have piles of dirt, a wheelbarrow, and planks scattered about. The caption at the bottom reads: “868-38 Boston Navy Yard. Nov 1 1938. Alterations to Qtrs. “G”. Completion of brickwork and laying of roof. (View looking northerly on east side of Qtrs.) Project No.765-14-2" Image 4: A two-story extension of a brick building, with a white wooden trellis covering its staircase in front. Several workers are shoveling dirt and working near the foundation, with a wheelbarrow and piles of dirt surround them. Another worker hunches over the top of the staircase. The caption at the bottom reads: “928-38 Boston Navy Yard. Dec 2 1938. Project 765-14-2-Addition to Qtrs. “G” showing south side of building.” Sources
In this kitchen, added in 1938, and the former housed in the basement, immigrants worked as chefs for the commandant. In the 1900s, Japanese cooks prepared meals for any occasion—family dinners, special events, and teatimes. After leaving service at the house, Goichi Kawamura stated, “I have cooked for many Navy officers and I am sure they require the best of food, which I surely know how to prepare.”1 Image CaptionStewards and cooks in the navy typically wore white coat uniforms, as seen in this first image of Commandant Wiley with his staff in 1963 (Boston National Historical Park). The second image is a photograph of Goichi Kawamura (Boston Globe, March 9, 1919). Visual DescriptionImage 1: In a living room, a group poses for a photo. A woman holding a child, four men wearing white coats, and one man in a decorated military uniform stand in front of a decorated Christmas Tree. Another woman sits at left holding a child. Several children, dressed in suits and formal clothing, sit on the floor in front of those standing. Image 2: Portrait photograph of a man wearing a suit and cap. Below the photograph is the text, “Goichi Kawamura.” Sources
This hallway acted as the original entry to the Commandant’s House. While today we consider the front of the house to be the side facing the Navy Yard, the original design planned for the house to face Chelsea Street and the rest of Charlestown. A semi-circular driveway led to this entry, allowing for the commandant and his family to have easy access to the neighborhood.1 The early fences and walls around the Navy Yard connected to either side of the Commandant’s House, allowing it to remain open to the street. The commandants of the 1820s received funds to build a more secure wall along the busy street north of the shipyard. Completed in 1826, the tall granite block wall ran along Chelsea Street, also known as the Salem Turnpike. At the front of the Commandant’s House, the wall curved up to either corner of the house and an iron fence ran along the road in front of the house.2 The photo above shows the front of the house in 1933. Despite this additional security, the commandant continued to welcome visitors from the original entry and lead them through this hallway to the parlors. These special guests may have walked across these floors, which likely date to 1899.3 With World War II and heightened security concerns, the Navy decided to remove the iron fence outside the Commandant’s House and replace it with a granite wall in 1941.4 This extension of the granite wall completely closed off the front of the house to Charlestown, leaving a small yard outside this former entry for the commandant and his family to enjoy. Image CaptionThe first photo depicts the original front of the house on Chelsea Street. Upon entering the house, visitors walked through this hallway. (Library of Congress; BOSTS-9203) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A three-story brick building with a triangular roof, chimneys, and a fire escape. The front has an arched doorway, flanked by two bay windows. A wrought iron fence with an arched gate encloses the small front yard. Streetcar tracks line the street directly out front. Image 2: Hallway with patterned rugs. A chair leans against a wall under a framed picture, with a small table against the opposite wall. A small chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The hallway opens into two doorways, with two furnished parlors beyond. Sources
Considered the most renovated room on the first floor of the house, stewards originally used this room as a butler’s pantry. A small elevator lift—a dumbwaiter— transported prepared food up from the kitchen downstairs. The stewards staged food in this room before serving it in the dining room across the hallway. A wall formerly divided the butler’s pantry from the front area with the bay windows. The smaller divided part of the parlor served as a library for the commandant. Floor plans reveal the commandant also used the front section of the room as a smoking room, and later as a waiting room for guests. Following the creation of the east wing of the house in 1938, stewards no longer needed this room as a butler’s pantry. In 1942, the commandant used the room as a reception room before eventually removing the wall separating the room in two. By 1956, the commandant had added bookcases to turn the room into a study. However, it likely never served as an office for the commandant; the commandant attended to business at other buildings in the Navy Yard.1 Image CaptionViews of the library and waiting room, 1958. (BNHP, BOSTS-9210) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A room with a sofa and two armchairs in front of bay windows. One wall has a bookcase, and another a dresser with a model ship and lamp. Behind the sofa, in front of the center window, is another model ship and lamp. Image 2: Corner of a room facing a closed door. Next to a floral upholstered armchair is a lamp and wooden secretary desk topped with a decorative model ship. Sources
In the original plans for the house, the Secretary of the Navy wanted the kitchen to be in the front cellar, effectively separating the public and private functions of the house. The basement kept the noises and smells of domestic work away from the commandant and his guests—it held the original kitchen, as well as laundry and storage for fuel. The commandant’s domestic staff also used the basement as housing quarters.1 The servants, stewards, attendants, and maids in the house washed and ironed clothes, prepared and served meals, cleaned the premises, and even looked after the commandant’s children. The commandant wanted only the best staff at the house. Advertisements posted in newspapers for cooks, chambermaids, and laundresses required “the best of references.” These advertisements also specified the religious, racial, and ethnic preferences of the commandant for these roles. One ad preferred to hire a Protestant maid, another a Japanese or Black servant.2 Despite working out of the public eye in spaces such as the basement and attic, servants in the house also forged deep connections with the commandants and their families. While employed in the Navy Yard, one Japanese servant, Ki Kono Kawamura, supported Commandant Rush’s (1914-1919) wife Jane and daughter Catherine. During Catherine’s wedding in 1918, Ki Kono wore her own “native costume” from Japan and helped with the train on Catherine’s dress as the bride walked down the aisle.3 Image CaptionKi Kono Kawamura (Ancestry, US Passport Applications, 1919) Visual DescriptionPortrait photograph of a woman wearing a patterned kimono. Her hair brushed back in an updo. The photograph rests in front of a paper, obscuring the text on the paper. Sources
Since the Charlestown Navy Yard's decommissioning in 1974, the Commandant's House has been preserved by the National Park Service. In 1998 and 2004, the Junior League of Boston helped the National Park Service by painting and restoring parts of the Commandant's House for the League's Decorators' Show House, an event to showcase interior designers' work for the benefit of local charities. For the 1998 Decorators' Show, Amy Engelhardt designed the murals on the second-floor landing and staircase in an effort to "return visitors to the maritime grandeur of the 18th and 19th centuries in Charlestown."1 The murals depict a panoramic view of Charlestown, including the Bunker Hill Monument and Boston Harbor. The mural was part of the Junior League of Boston's efforts to help repair and update the Commandant's House at the turn of the 21st century. In addition to previously partnering with the Junior League, the National Park Service currently works with the Student Conservation Association's Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps to restore the Commandant's House. The partnership provides young adults with the opportunity to serve their communities through historic preservation. For instance, the MA Historic Preservation Corps worked with the National Parks of Boston to restore the doorways in this foyer and continue to make ongoing restorations to the granite wall to the north of the house. Image CaptionThe 1998 cover of the Junior League of Boston's Decorators' Show House Magazine. ("Show House Magazine: 1998 Decorators' Show House," 1998) Visual DescriptionCover of a magazine with the title, “1998 Decorators’ Show House Show House Magazine Presented by the Junior League of Boston.” The cover features a painting of a brick building with a double-bowed facade, white trim, a wraparound porch with arched windows. One staircase is visible leading down from the porch to the grounds filled with flowers, trees, and shrubs. A small blue emblem in the bottom right corner marks the Junior League’s anniversary, with the text, “The Junior League of Boston Crescendo to 100 years.” Sources
While the first floor of the Commandant’s House played a very public role as a gathering place for official receptions, ceremonies, and other events, the second floor functioned as a typical domestic space for the commandant and his family. This room served as the Commandant’s Chamber, or master bedroom. Attached to this room is a bathroom, converted from an earlier dressing room in 1897.1 Image CaptionViews of the southwest bedroom, first, likely before 1950 and second, from 1954. (BOSTS-9209) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A bedroom with a bed with a metal bed frame against the wall. A round wooden table with a pitcher and glasses sits in the center of the room. A floral-patterned armchair sits near a tall window with floral curtains. A fireplace with a mantel holds framed pictures. Image 2: Bedroom with a wooden bed frame, a desk and chair, opposite floral-patterned chairs and a sofa near the window and a fireplace. Built-in closets line the back wall, with one of the doors open. Sources
Much like the Commandant’s Chamber, this room likely served as a bedroom or guest room for friends and family of the commandant and his wife. The present bathroom attached to this room, likely dating to the 1930s, had previously been used as a dressing or sewing room.1 Image CaptionView of the southeast bedroom from 1954. (BOSTS-9209) Visual DescriptionA bedroom with a wooden bed frame and mattress next to a dresser and wooden chair. Across are floral-patterned armchairs in front of a fireplace and window. Built-in closets line the back wall, with one open to reveal a dresser and mirror. Sources
Unlike the large-scale gatherings held on the first floors, the commandants and their families used the second floor for their private family lives. Depending on the family, they used these rooms as bedrooms, sitting rooms, and even later as the television room. They also used these rooms to host personal visits with friends and family. For example, in the 1930s, the wife of Rear Admiral Henry Hough (1933-1935), “entertained small groups of officers’ wives for bridge and mah-jong on the second floor.”1 According to Evelyn Williams, the daughter of an officer stationed at the Navy Yard during Rear Admiral Hough’s tenure: When I went to visit, or dropped by the Commandant’s House, most of her (Mrs. Hough’s) entertainment, and her informal visits from friends, was done upstairs. She had two huge rooms, kind of on the Main Gate side of the Commandant’s House. And one of those big rooms in the back was a bedroom, a huge room. And as I came into her sitting room, it was just like another living room.2 Image CaptionView of the northeast bedroom from 1954. (Terry Harrington) Visual DescriptionBedroom with a single wooden bed. Next to the bed is a window with sheer curtains. In front of the window is a small vanity table. In the corner of the room are built in shelves, a dresser, and a few chairs. Next to the chairs is a simple fireplace. Sources
The rooms on the second floor served a variety of roles depending on the size and needs of the commandant’s family. Oftentimes, commandants took this position towards the end of their careers and had adult children who did not live at home with them. These rooms therefore may have been used as sitting rooms or guest bedrooms. Others did have young families, and these rooms served as nurseries and bedrooms for their children. Rear Admiral John Rodgers (1866-1869) reflected on his domestic life at the Commandant’s House with his wife and children: “She sews and talks, and I listen: the children grow and I play with them. Willie is a bookworm – Freda loves dolls, and to be petted. Helen is a little dunce who cannot talk – at least not in English, but she uses some unknown tongue with great volubility.”1 Unlike their counterparts stationed on ships throughout the world, commandants of the Charlestown Navy Yard, and others with shore assignments, could better balance work and home life and had more time with their families on a regular basis.2 Image CaptionViews of the northwest bedroom, first, likely before 1950, second, from 1954. (BOSTS-9210) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Corner of a room with a white fireplace topped with trophies and clocks. The walls are filled with framed photographs, certificates, and artwork. An armchair with a floral pillow sits near window with curtains. Image 2: A bedroom with two single wooden beds and a nightstand between them. A window with floral-patterned curtains is behind the beds. A fireplace and desk with a lamp are next to the beds on the left, and a cushioned chair is partially at the foot of the bed on the right. Sources
The rooms on the third floor of the Commandant’s House, or the attic, consisted primarily of sewing rooms and housing quarters for servants. Renovations to the house in 1849 included the expansion of the attic space by raising the ceiling to a full height. After the installation of bathrooms on the third floor in 1863, rooms on this floor more suitably housed servants. For instance, Commandant McCrea’s (1952-1953) personal servant from Guam, Tony, lived on the third floor in the early 1950s. Tony took care of McCrea’s young daughter Annie, as well as housekeeping. By the 1950s, however, most of the domestic staff lived elsewhere in the Navy Yard or in the basement of the house.1 Image CaptionArchitectural plan of the third floor, from 1956. (BOSTS9213-G-72) Visual DescriptionArchitectural plan of a four-chamber floor of a house. Spaces include two chambers on the left, a maid’s room on the top right, and a sewing room at bottom right. A central stairway, closets, and bathrooms connect the rooms. Doors, windows, and fireplaces are indicated with architectural symbols. Sources
Art in the HouseRear Admiral Carl Espe (1958-1962) and his wife Hilda Espe. (BOSTS-9195, ca. 1958-62) Visual DescriptionA sunroom with large windows, plants, and wicker-style furniture. A man in uniform stands with his arm resting on the window as he looks out. A woman sits on a chair looking up at the man near the window, and another person leans against the doorway in the background. Left: Commandant's House, ca. 1930s (BOSTS-9183-2) Right: Commandant's House, 1901 (BOSTS-9182) Visual DescriptionImage 1: A brick building with a double-rounded facade, wrap around porch, and two staircases leading to the entrance, is surrounded by trees and hedges. A tall obelisk monument is in the background. Image 2: A brick building with a double-bowed facade is painted white. In front of the building, there is a gated fence, pergola, and guardhouse. A man in uniform walks in front of the gated entrance under the pergola. Left: "View of Bunker Hill from the Navy Yard, Before the Erection of the Monument, from a Painting," 1820s (BOSTS-9179-2068) Right: "Commodore's House and Garden, at the Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass.," 1852 (BOSTS-9180, printed in Gleason's Pictorial) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Engraving of a hilly landscape with prominent buildings scattered across. In the center is a tall building with a double-owed facade. A tree-lined path leads to the building, and fences and trees line the grounds and road in front. People stand outside the fences. At the bottom is the text, “View of Bunker Hill from the Navy Yard, Before the Erection of the Monument, from a Painting” Image 2: Engraving of a large house with a double-bowed facade and double-staircase is partly hidden by trees and other greenery. A taller man walks with a small child along a path in front of the fence before the house. At the bottom is the text, “Commodore’s House and Garden, at the Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass.” USS Constitution during the War of 1812, based on drawings by Montardier du Havre. Left: USS Constitution and HMS Java Right: USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere Sources"NH 55411 U.S. Frigate Constitution captures HMS Java, off the coast of Brazil, 29 December 1812," Naval History and Heritage Command, Accessed August 28, 2025, NH 55411 U.S. Frigate Constitution captures HMS Java, off the coast of Brazil, 29 December 1812. "NH 42065 Action between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere, 19 August 1812," Naval History and Heritage Command, Accessed August 28, 2025, NH 42065 Action between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere, 19 August 1812. Gilbert Stuart, 1807 (On loan to the USS Constitution Museum from a Private Collection) Visual DescriptionPortrait of Captain Isaac Hull. He has short brown hair and wears a dark uniform with gold trim, buttons, and epaulets. The dark uniform jacket and white shirt underneath both have high collars. Sources"Portrait of Captain Isaac Hull," Accessed August 25, 2025, Portrait of Captain Isaac Hull - USS Constitution Museum Gilbert Stuart, 1813, (USS Constitution Museum Collection) Visual DescriptionPortrait of Commodore William Bainbridge. He has short brown and gray hair that is styled upwards and sideburns. He wears a dark uniform with two columns of gold buttons, gold epaulets. The closed dark jacket has a high collar. Sources"Portrait of Commodore William Bainbridge," Accessed August 25, 2025, Portrait of Commodore William Bainbridge - USS Constitution Museum. Top Left: "A Superb View of the United States Japanese Squadron Under Command of Commodore Perry, Bound For The East" (Gleason's Pictorial, February 12, 1853) Bottom Left: "United States Ship of War Roanoke, Brig of War Dolphin, and New Buildings, Charlestown Navy Yard" (Ballou's Pictorial, August 14, 1856) Right: "Launch of the United States Steamer Merrimac, from the Navy Yard, Charlestown" (Ballou's Pictorial, July 14, 1855) Visual DescriptionImage 1: Engraving of multiple large sailing ships and a steamer ship in rough seas. Two ships in the front both fly American flags. Text below identifies the ships: “Princeton. Vermont. Alleghany. St. Mary’s. Macedonian. Vandalia. Plymouth. Saratoga. Mississippi, (Flag Ship). Susquehanna. Powhatan.” Below the names, at the bottom is the text, “A Superb View of the United States Japanese Squadron Under Command of Commodore Perry, Bound For The East.” Image 2: Engraving of a tall, three-masted sailing ship. Another sailing ship is docked in the background, before two buildings and two smokestacks. Two individuals are working on small rafts in the foreground. At the bottom is the text, “United States Ship of War Roanoke, Brig of War Dolphin, and New Buildings, Charlestown Navy Yard” Image 3: Engraving of a long steamer ship docked at a pier. A crowd gathers on the pier nearby, while smaller boats fill the harbor in front of the large steamer ship. At the bottom is the text, “Launch of the United States Steamer Merrimac, from the Navy Yard, Charlestown” SourcesBallou’s Pictorial, July 14, 1855, Accesssed August 25, 2025, Ballou's pictorial : Ballou, Maturin Murray, 1820-1895 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Ballou's Pictorial, August 14, 1856, Accessed August 25, 2025, Ballou's pictorial : Ballou, Maturin Murray, 1820-1895 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Gleason’s Pictorial, February 12, 1853, Accessed August 25, 2025, GLEASON'S PICTORIAL 1853-02-12: Vol 4 Iss 7 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Michele Felice Corné, circa 1803 (Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection) Visual DescriptionPainting of a large sailing ship, CONSTITUTION, at sea. The ship has large masts and its sails open. The ship flies an American flag at the stern, and some smoke billows from cannons near the bow. A few smaller sailing ships are in the background. Sources"CONSTITUTION," Accessed August 25, 2025, CONSTITUTION - USS Constitution Museum. In 2004, The National Park Service partnered with the Junior League of Boston to host the Decorators' Show House at the Commandant's House. As part of this charity event, the Junior League of Boston helped paint, repair, update, and restore parts of the Commandant's House—including these murals in the staircase. Artist John S. Coles painted scenes of USS Constitution at sea in the wall alcoves along the staircase as part of this initiative.1 Image CaptionThis drawing in the 2004 Decorator's Show House magazine features the house's staircase with the painted alcoves. (Decorators' Show House, 2004) Visual DescriptionIllustration of a curved staircase with a red carpet and wooden banister. The yellow walls have red designs and a single alcove that has a blue and green painting. Sources
In 2004, interior designer Lori Gorelick created the murals in the bathroom as part of the Junior League of Boston’s collaboration with the National Park Service to update and repair parts of the Commandant’s House. "A cross between Paris flea market style and 1950s retro chic,” the designs feature Parisian sites with a woman walking her French poodle. Gorelick intended for the graphic patterns above the mural to help make the room look more proportional.1 Image CaptionThe 2004 cover of the Decorators' Show House magazine (Decorators' Show House, 2004). Visual DescriptionCover of a magazine with title text, “The Junior League of Boston Presents 2004 Decorators’ Show House.” It features an illustration of a brick building with a double-bowed facade. It has a white wraparound porch with large arched windows. A walkway leads up to stairs that split into two symmetrical staircases on either side of the porch. Trees, shrubs, and hedges line the grounds surrounding the building. The artist’s signature, “John S. Coles ’04,” appears in the bottom right corner. SourcesThe Junior League of Boston, Decorators’ Show House (Boston, 2004), 20. Footnotes
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Last updated: September 3, 2025