Eustis Estate – Milton

During the long months of the covid shutdown, I found myself watching closely for the reopening of historic house museums so I could continue my explorations. One of the first places to open its doors again in early 2020 was the Eustis Estate Museum in Milton. When we heard it had reopened, Marty and I drove there to take in this magnificent house and its beautiful grounds. It was one of those small but meaningful moments when it felt as though life might slowly begin returning to normal.

The estate was built in 1878 for William Ellery Channing Eustis, a member of a prominent Boston family whose wealth came from banking and manufacturing. The house is considered one of the most striking examples of high Victorian architecture in Massachusetts, constructed of multicolored stone and decorated with elaborate carvings that give the exterior a rich textured appearance.

Inside the house, the craftsmanship continues in the carved woodwork, stained glass and finely detailed rooms that reflected the taste of Boston;s wealthy families in the later nineteenth century. One of the unique features was a circular fireplace, referred to as a “lunar fireplace”. This fireplace was designed in a rounded form creating a striking focal point.

The house sits on a hill at the edge of the Blue Hills Reservation, giving the estate sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Today the property is preserved by Historic New England, which maintains the house and grounds as a museum to art, architecture and regional history.