About the Tour
400 Beacon Street was the final home of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science—and one of the most well-known women in the U.S. in the early 1900s. Walking into the house today, you will step back to 1908, to the time when Mrs. Eddy and her household moved into this gracious building. More than a private residence, it served as the executive headquarters of the Christian Science movement from 1908 to 1910. As such, it was both home and workplace to the approximately 20 men and women who worked alongside Mrs. Eddy.
Through engaging exhibits and informative guides, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Mrs. Eddy’s labors and achievements during this period—including founding The Christian Science Monitor, a daily newspaper—as well as the details of day-to-day life in the early 20th century.
Tour duration: 2 hours
Buy TicketsLocation
400 Beacon St.
Chestnut Hill,
MA
02467
Admission
Adults (18+): $25
Youths (7–17): $12.50
Children (under 7): Free
Members: Free (View membership information.)
For groups of 10 or more, or if you have questions, please call 617.278.9000.
Hours
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Friday and Saturday, 10–5 P.M., Sunday, 1–5 P.M.
On Friday and Saturday, tours begin at 10 A.M., 12, and 2 P.M. On Sunday, tours start at 1 and 3 P.M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the main house and carriage house are accessible. The tour involves standing, walking, some climbing of stairs, and only limited opportunity for sitting. (An elevator is available for those needing it, as are a few folding chairs at some locations.) If you use a wheelchair or will be accompanied by a service animal, please indicate this when you purchase tickets. Longyear provides wheelchairs for use in the house. (Wheelchairs brought by visitors are only permissible in the exhibit space in the Visitor Center.)
No bags larger than 4 by 7 inches are permitted in the house. All bags larger than that size will be stored in our secured closet.
Food or drinks, including water bottles and children’s drink containers, are not permitted inside the main house or the carriage house.
Yes. Photography with a handheld device is permitted for personal use. Flash photography is not allowed, nor is the use of selfie sticks. No photos or videos, whether of the inside or outside, may be used or published in print or online for any commercial or academic purposes without permission. Professional/commercial photographers and members of the media should contact the Office of Communication at 617.278.9000 x 250.
Strollers are not permitted in the house, and parents should plan on carrying very young children during the tour. Strollers are permissible when touring the grounds and carriage house.
Explore Other Mary Baker Eddy Historic Houses
North Groton, New Hampshire
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Guided tours only by prior appointment.
Please call 617.278.9000 to schedule a tour. Minimum 72-hour (three-day) notice required.
Swampscott, Massachusetts
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Thursday through Saturday, 10–4 P.M., Sunday, 1–4 P.M.
On Thursday through Saturday, tours begin at 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. On Sunday, tours start at 1 and 3 P.M.
Rumney, New Hampshire
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Guided tours only by prior appointment.
Please call 617.278.9000 to schedule a tour. Minimum 72-hour (three-day) notice required.
Stoughton, Massachusetts
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Guided tours only by prior appointment.
Please call 617.278.9000 to schedule a tour. Minimum 72-hour (three-day) notice required.
Amesbury, Massachusetts
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Friday and Saturday from 12 to 3 P.M.
Tours start at 12, 1, and 2 P.M.
Lynn, Massachusetts
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Thursday through Saturday, 10–4 P.M., Sunday, 1–4 P.M.
On Thursday through Saturday, tours begin at 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. On Sunday, tours start at 1 and 3 P.M.
Concord, New Hampshire
May 1 through Oct. 31, 2025:
Guided tours only by prior appointment.
Please call 617.278.9000 to schedule a tour. Minimum 72-hour (three-day) notice required.
The Story
Mrs. Eddy had been living at Pleasant View, her home in Concord, New Hampshire, for nearly 16 years when she made the decision to move back to the Boston area. In late January 1908, she and her household staff took up residence here at 400 Beacon Street. Her home was a center of activity for the Christian Science movement and continues to stand as a testament to her role as its Leader.
The layout of her second-floor study here closely mirrors her former work space at Pleasant View, with her desk surrounded by a bay of windows looking out across the grounds. From this study in July 1908, just months after arriving here, Mrs. Eddy directed the officers of her church to immediately set about publishing a daily newspaper. And five months later, on November 25, 1908, this is where she opened and read the first issue of The Christian Science Monitor.
Here, she also made final edits to many of her writings, including the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Additionally, she published a collection of poetry, authorized the first translation of Science and Health into another language (German), and produced a stream of pastoral letters, articles, and messages to her church and the world. With the addition of final By-laws to the Manual of The Mother Church, she also helped cement in place the structure that would carry her church forward when she was no longer present to guide it.
This would be Mrs. Eddy’s final home. She passed away here in her ninetieth year, on December 3, 1910.
Years Mary Baker Eddy Lived Here
1908–1910
Highlight
Mrs. Eddy founded The Christian Science Monitor while living here.
House Fact
Longyear spent nearly a decade restoring the house. The restoration was completed in 2024.
The House
The original house was built circa 1880, designed by the renowned Boston firm of Peabody and Stearns. Mrs. Eddy, the third owner of the property, purchased it in 1907. She had it extensively remodeled under the supervision of Chicago architect Solon S. Beman, who had collaborated on The Mother Church Extension. The house was nearly doubled in size to accommodate her growing staff, which by then averaged about 20 people.
Through generous donations, Longyear Museum purchased the house from The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in 2006. In 2016, The Mother Church donated many of the remaining furnishings, and later gave Longyear artwork and other artifacts. The house has since undergone a complete restoration and is open for tours.
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