Derby House, 168 Derby Street, Salem, Essex County, MA

Significance: Presently owned by the National Park Service, the house is administered by a superintendent with offices in the Custom House, 178 Derby Street. It functions as a completely furnished early American house museum, open all year to the public. A caretaker occupies the third floor rooms and kitchen ell. Two periods of extensive restoration work have contributed to preserving the Derby House as a good example of an eighteenth century gambrel roof house, generally associated with a date earlier than 1761-62 when it was built. It is the oldest brick house remaining in Salem, an older one having been torn down. The wood stair with carved balusters and newel post, and beveled wall paneling are interesting architectural details. The house is important in connection with early merchant families of Salem, including Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799), merchant who is reputed to be the first American millionaire and for whom the house was built, Captain Henry Prince, shipmaster and merchant, and William Ropes, merchant.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N217
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-306
Survey number: HABS MA-269