History of the Old Corner Bookstore & Cunningham House
The preservation of the 1718-1828 Old Corner Bookstore complex- the oldest continually operating commercial building in downtown Boston- has been made possible by centuries of commercial tenants. The Boston Globe shared in such efforts here from the 1960s- 1980s. Samuel Narcus Stationary oversaw the colonial restoration of the 1728 Cunningham House for the nation’s Bicentennial. Recently, Chipotle Mexican Grill supported restoration of the iconic boxed-bay windows in the Old Corner Bookstore ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
Tenants in the Old Corner support Historic Boston Incorporated’s preservation efforts across the city, funneling the wealth of downtown Boston into preserving the history of our neighborhoods one project at a time.
The Old Corner Bookstore and Cunningham House complex in Boston’s Downtown Crossing were made official Boston Landmarks in 2025. Read the entire Landmark Study Report here and learn more about the history of the 1718-1828 Old Corner Bookstore complex and 1728 Cunningham House below:
283 Washington Street:
Old Corner Bookstore and Cunningham House receive Landmark designation
The Legacy of Publishers Ticknor and Fields at the Old Corner Bookstore, Part 1
The Legacy of Publishers Ticknor and Fields at the Old Corner Bookstore, Part 2
The Legacy of Publishers Ticknor and Fields at the Old Corner Bookstore, Part 3
The Legacy of Publishers Ticknor and Fields at the Old Corner Bookstore, Part 4
The Atlantic, Boston and the Old Corner Bookstore
Louisa May Alcott’s ‘Pot of Gold’
Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride,” poem revisited in light of 250th
Walking in the footsteps of Anne Hutchinson: Women of the Old Corner
Behind the Portrait: The Tale of Mitchell the Tailor
5 misconceptions about the Old Corner Bookstore
Back to Basics: Preserving the 18th-century foundation at the Old Corner Bookstore
277 Washington Street:
5, 7 & 11 School Street:
What should the Old Corner Bookstore look like?