The People
Between 1859 and 1954, three generations of Gibson family members and dozens of servants lived and worked at 137 Beacon Street. In many ways, their experiences are typical of individuals of their particular gender and social class. And yet, their unique stories allow us to explore this period of Boston’s history through a distinctly personal lens.
Click below to learn more about who lived at 137 Beacon.
The People
Between 1859 and 1954, three generations of Gibson family members and dozens of servants lived and worked at 137 Beacon Street. In many ways, their experiences are typical of individuals of their particular gender and social class. And yet, their unique stories allow us to explore this period of Boston’s history through a distinctly personal lens.
Click below to learn more about who lived at 137 Beacon.
Our Mission
The Gibson House Museum serves as the primary resource for understanding and interpreting a century of life in Boston's Back Bay. We accomplish this by:
• Preserving the 1859 row house and its collections.
• Exhibiting and interpreting the house in its urban context to provide education and enjoyment for the general public, students, and scholars.
• Relating the stories and lives of the Gibson family and their employees in a way that resonates in the 21st century.
• Promoting an appreciation of Back Bay social history, material culture, literature, and the arts.
News and Announcements
Staffing Recovery Grant, 2023
In 2023 we were delighted to be one of the 35 organizations that received a two-year Staffing Recovery Grant from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities (Mass Humanities), funding for which has been provided through the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Exciting new programs and public events are being made possible thanks to this grant, so keep an eye on our programming schedule!
In 2020 the Museum received a $2,500 CARES operating support grant from Mass Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), for which it remains very grateful.
Preservation and Interpretation Grants, 2020-2024
We are thrilled that the Gibson House Museum has been the recipient of the following grants:
City of Boston Community Preservation Funds and Mass Cultural Facility Funds help with building preservation and repairs.
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities (Mass Humanities)/National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding to reinterpret the ground floor and develop a servant-focused tour.
Spotlights
The Gibson House Museum was featured on an episode of the What's Her Name Podcast in 2023, which highlighted the interesting and complex story of Ethel Gibson Allen. You can find the episode here, or search "What'sHerName" wherever you listen to podcasts.
The Gibson House Museum was featured in 2019's Little Women movie. The museum stands in for Jo's New York boardinghouse and publisher's home. Read more about Little Women at the Gibson House here.
The museum has also been profiled by
Mass Realty
Boston Ballet
Boston Pride Guide
Boston Homes magazine
"Chronicle"
Harvard magazine
"Museum Open House"
Board of Directors
Samuel H. Duncan, President
Lauren Thomas, Vice President
Jack Mangan, Treasurer
Susan Ashbrook, Secretary
Jesse Adams-Doolittle
Susan Bennett
Jacqueline Blombach
Frances Duffly
Rachel P. Ericksen
Jack Glassman
David R. Hocker
Carter Jackson
Lorie K. Komlyn
Clayton McCleskey
Kerry Miles
Lynn Smiledge
Katherine B. Winter
Museum Staff
Michelle Coughlin, Museum Administrator
Meghan Gelardi Holmes, Curator
Amy Malach, Museum and Program Coordinator
Catherine Carver, Office Assistant, Museum Guide
Katharine Albert, Museum Guide
Alyx Colleran, Museum Guide
Benedita Figueira, Museum Guide
Jamie Godfrey, Museum Guide
Rosemary Gormley, Museum Guide
Eliza Whalen, Museum Guide
The Gibson Society, Inc.
The Gibson Society, Inc. is a tax-exempt charitable and educational institution in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN 04-2299931). Gifts and contributions are deductible from federal taxes in accordance with current provisions of the code.
Support the Gibson House Museum through Shopping
Get iconic Gibson House Museum imagery on a plethora of items and goods on our Redbubble page. The Gibson House Museum gets 10% of the listed price with each purchase. Plus, you can get a bit of the Museum delivered to your home or send it as a gift.
Annual Reports
Online Reviews
"Our docent was very welcoming and provided an excellent range of information about the house and family. The Back Bay area is very intriguing but there are few opportunities to view the interior of the residences there. The Gibson house provides a glimpse into the home and lives of members of the Boston elite. There is a very elegant feel to the house and many interesting artifacts."
Reviewed April 2022 on TripAdvisor
"Terrific! My 11 year old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. We live outside of Boston and have been doing lots of local exploring during Covid and found out about Gibson House while reading an article about the Little Women movie. We love seeing how the Victorians and their families lived and this was spot on. Our guide, Erin, was knowledgeable and able to answer every question."
Reviewed July 2021 on TripAdvisor
"The array of furniture and personal belongings on display is absolutely amazing and fascinating to see how much has been saved."
Reviewed January 2020 on TripAdvisor
"Great tour! This is an interesting house with a unique story. All of the rooms on the first three levels are accessible, and the rooms are authentically arranged with mostly original Gibson family furnishings. Though there is a tour guide, you can go at your own pace and are given a chance to walk around each room. Tour guide was friendly and relatable." Reviewed July 2019 on TripAdvisor
"I had the best time at the Gibson House Museum. The tour guide was super-friendly and knowledgeable. The house itself is charming [and] well preserved and there is so much to see....If you love history and museums, then you will enjoy this tour.... Highly recommend!" Reviewed April 2018 on TripAdvisor