Skinny House
4.4(14)yelp
Historic BuildingQuirkyPhoto SpotwalkingCity Landmark
Overview
The Skinny House, also known darkly as the 'Spite House,' is an incredible, record-breaking architectural anomaly tucked away in Boston's historic North End. Measuring a mind-boggling maximum of just 10.4 feet wide at its absolute widest point and narrowing to a mere 6.2 feet internally, this four-story wooden residence was built in 1874 following a bitter family feud. According to local lore, one brother constructed the ultra-narrow house specifically to block sunlight from his brother's adjacent home, creating a viral historic photo spot.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 10-15 minutes
Best TimeThe best time to stop by for a snapshot is between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on a clear day. Known as Boston's famous 'Spite House', this incredibly narrow, four-story historic brick home captures front-facing sunlight beautifully during these hours.
Getting ThereSituated right at 44 Hull St in the North End, directly across from Copps Hill Burying Ground. Take the MBTA Subway Green or Orange Line to Haymarket Station, then walk 9 minutes up Hull Street to spot the legendary 3-foot-wide skinny brick facade.
Travel Tips
- Hull Street is incredibly narrow with zero idling or stopping allowed for passenger cars. Plan to visit on foot while walking the North End section of the Freedom Trail.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- The best angle to emphasize its paper-thin geometry is standing 20 meters up Hull Street toward the burying ground. Use a medium lens to compress the ridiculous contrast with adjacent buildings.
Photo Rules
- This historic 'Spite House' is a privately owned residential home; the interior is closed to the public. Limit your photo ops to the sidewalk across the street at 44 Hull Street.
Reviews
Positive
- Boston's famous 'Spite House', measuring just over 3 feet at its narrowest; this bizarre architectural oddity is highly amusing and lives up to the hype.
- Completely free to view from the exterior; as a classic quirky landmark along the North End Freedom Trail walking path, it holds high cultural photo-op value.
- Superb geographic location, sitting right across from Copps Hill Burying Ground and close to Paul Revere's House, making it highly convenient to bundle.
- The masonry and vintage black shutters are beautifully maintained with a clear historical plaque, showcasing Boston's unique urban history.
Heads up
- The interior is a private home with zero public access; tourists can only view the facade from across a narrow alley, which can feel slightly anticlimactic.
- Because Hull Street out front is a very narrow, sloped old lane, crowds pack the sidewalk to take photos, causing high density and lacking safety clearance from traffic.
- The landmark features zero public infrastructure like restrooms, benches, or trash cans, and street parking is non-existent, offering zero convenience for drivers.
- It lacks a detailed official multilingual background sign; foreign tourists who haven't googled the 'Spite House' backstory beforehand can easily walk right past it.