Hinchman House, 7 Milk Street, Nantucket, Nantucket County, MA

Significance: The Lydia S. Hinchman House, a late Federal style structure, was built in the early nineteenth century for Thomas Coffin. The Woodridge family occupied the house from about 1870-1929. In 1929, Lydia S. Hinchman, a first cousin of Maria Mitchell, purchased the house, located adjacent to the Maria Mitchell Complex. Though Mrs. Hinchman never lived in the house, she finished it for her children and grandchildren who summered there. Lydia Hinchman willed the property to her son with the request that it pass to the Maria Mitchell Association upon his death. Mr. Hinchman died in 1944. The Association accepted the bequest and named the house for Lydia S. Hinchman, the founder of the Maria Mitchell Association. Today the house serves as a natural science museum and Association staff quarters.
Survey number: HABS MA-1287