The Saltonstall - Tuckerman House is a breathtaking brick Federal Period mansion built in 1810 and first occupied by Leverett Saltonstall, the first Mayor of Salem and scion of one of the oldest and most prominent families in Massachusetts. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it resides on historic Chestnut Street, which has often been called one of the most beautiful street in America. Still the premier residential street in Salem, Chestnut Street was laid out in 1800 as the street on which some of America’s first millionaires, many of whom were shipowners, merchants, and sea captains engaged in the China Trade, would build their mansions. The house is prominently featured in a number of books on architecture and is famous for it's three story suspended spiral staircase. The current residents are only the third family to reside in the house since it was built over two hundred years ago.
The approximately 6,000 square foot house has six large bedrooms, three and a half recently renovated bathrooms, a beautifully renovated kitchen with a Vulcan restaurant stove and cherry cabinets custom built by a furniture maker who has made pieces for the White House, a butler’s pantry, an amazing formal dining room, a children’s playroom, a laundry room, a wisteria-trimmed sunroom, and a library. All of the period details remain, including exquisite wood work and moldings and ten fireplaces (regretfully not available for use by guests due to their age). There are high ceilings and large windows throughout (unlike many other antique homes for rent, which often have some of their bedrooms in low ceiling height, small window upper floors that have been converted from attics or were once servants quarters) The house is gracefully furnished with lovely antiques, Persian carpets, etc., While many visitors exclaim that the house should be a museum, they find it warm and welcoming, not stuffy.
There is a lovely yard and garden and a gas grill for outdoor cooking.
The house is in a historic residential neighborhood on the edge of downtown Salem, within walking distance of the city’s many wonderful restaurants and shops, tourist attractions, America’s oldest museum, the Peabody Essex, the waterfront, and the train to Boston, which takes 25-30 minutes.
The opportunity to stay in a home like this rarely presents itself.
