About the Tour
Now a National Historic Landmark, 8 Broad Street was the first home owned by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science. From this modest house, purchased in 1875, she courageously took her discovery and its message of healing and comfort to a wider world. During the seven years she lived here, Mrs. Eddy published the first edition of her cornerstone work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, founded her church, chartered a college, and taught dozens of students.
Through an engaging exhibit and knowledgeable guides, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the labors and achievements of a remarkable woman who would go on to become one of the most famous in the United States. You’ll also learn about the details of day-to-day life in the latter half of the 19th century.
Tour also includes the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House in Swampscott and begins there.
Tour duration: 90 minutes, plus 15 minutes of travel time between the two houses
Buy TicketsLocation
8 Broad St.
Lynn,
MA
01902
Admission
Adults (18+): $15 (includes tour of Swampscott house)
Youths (7–17): $7.50
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:
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The tour involves standing, walking, some climbing of stairs, and only limited opportunity for sitting.
- The Swampscott House: This house is not accessible.
- The Lynn House: A lift is available for access to the first-floor parlor and exhibit, as well as restrooms on the lower level. An alternative experience is available since the second and third floors are not accessible. If you use a wheelchair or will be accompanied by a service animal, please indicate this when you purchase tickets.
Backpacks and large bags are not permitted.
Food or drinks, including water bottles and children’s drink containers, are not permitted inside the 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 either house, and parents should plan on carrying very young children during the tour.
The tour begins at 23 Paradise Road, Swampscott, MA 01907. Free parking is available in the small turnaround to the left of the house.
Free parking is also available at 8 Broad Street, in the lot behind the house. Visitors are expected to provide their own transportation between the two houses.
Explore Other Mary Baker Eddy Historic Houses
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
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.
The Story
Mary Baker Eddy, who was at that time known as Mary B. Glover, purchased the house on Broad Street in 1875, as she was finishing the manuscript for Science and Health. In a small attic room, under a skylight, she wrote the pages that completed her book and painstakingly proofread and corrected the printer’s galley sheets. By year’s end, the first edition was published.
She began formally teaching students here, holding classes in the first-floor parlor. Eventually, in January 1881, she would obtain a charter for the Massachusetts Metaphysical College. It was also in this room where she preached at the first Christian Science worship services, and where, on July 4, 1876, she formed an association of her students, marking her initial foray into church organization. In 1879, it was in this same room that those students voted to organize the Church of Christ (Scientist) and called her to be its Pastor.
Here in this house, Mary B. Glover officially became Mary Baker Eddy, when she married Asa Gilbert Eddy on New Year’s Day 1877.
“Very sacred to me are the memories that cluster around my old home,” she would later write, “the earthly dwelling where Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures was written—where my husband, Dr. Eddy, and I instituted the Christian Scientists Home, and passed many happy hours in prayer to God and work for man …” (Mary Baker Eddy, Footprints Fadeless, 105).
The Eddys took their final leave of Lynn in January 1882. Down the steps of this home, Mary Baker Eddy set out to continue her important work in Boston and beyond.
Years Mary Baker Eddy Owned This House
1875–1882
Highlight
Mrs. Eddy completed the first edition of Science and Health while living here.
House Fact
The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2021.
The House
After the Eddys left, this house was occupied by several different homeowners. It was purchased by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, in 1916, and tours were offered for many decades. Longyear Museum acquired the property through special donations in 2006.
An extensive two-phase restoration took place from 2009 to 2014. Today, the home’s exterior and interior reflect the vibrant colors and layout that Mary Baker Eddy would have known.
In 2021, 8 Broad Street was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior. This is the highest level of recognition for a historic site in the United States.
For articles, photos, and videos about the project, please visit the Lynn Restoration page on this website.
The house features an exhibit about Mrs. Eddy’s foundational work there.
Take a virtual tour of the Mary Baker Historic House in Lynn!
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