The Navy Yard Commandant’s House: A Historical Home Tour

History buffs and architecture enthusiasts are transported back in time when they step inside a Navy Yard Commandant’s House. These homes hold a unique place in American history as homes of distinguished naval officers and testaments to centuries of architectural and social change.

If you’ve ever wondered what life was like for high-ranking naval families or how military housing has evolved, a historical home tour of a Commandant’s House is an exciting treat.

What is a Navy Yard Commandant’s House?

The Commandant’s House is at the heart of many former U.S. Navy Yards. This official residence was built for the Commandant – the highest-ranking officer in charge of the Navy Yard. These stately homes served as private dwellings and functioned as social and administrative hubs for the Yard.

Commandants frequently hosted dignitaries, visiting officers, and important guests, making the houses beacons of naval hospitality. Over time, they became symbols of the Navy’s prestige and enduring presence within a community.

Architectural Styles

Commandant’s Houses showcase the prevailing architectural styles of the eras in which they were built. Here’s a look at common styles:

• Federal: The earliest Commandant’s Houses typically reflect this neoclassical style, emphasizing symmetry, clean lines, and columned porches. The Commandant’s House at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, is a prime example.
• Greek Revival: Popular in the mid-19th century, this style is known for its grand columns, temple-like facades, and ornate elements inspired by ancient Greece.
• Victorian Styles: Later Commandant’s Houses may exhibit characteristics of various Victorian styles (e.g., Italianate, Queen Anne) with elaborate details, asymmetrical layouts, and picturesque embellishments. The Commandant’s House in the Brooklyn Navy Yard displays these features.

Inside a Commandant’s House

Stepping across the threshold, visitors encounter a bygone world. Let’s take a tour of typical rooms and features:

• Grand Entryway: Designed to impress, these foyers feature high ceilings, elaborate moldings, and perhaps a sweeping staircase.
• Formal Parlor: A place for receiving important guests, parlors boasted elegant furnishings, fine artwork, and possibly musical instruments for entertainment.
• Dining Room: Formal dinner parties were a key part of the Commandant’s social duties. Dining rooms would have been spacious, with large tables, fine china settings, and impressive sideboards.
• The Commandant’s Office: This was both a workspace and a place for conducting official business. It might contain nautical charts, maps, a writing desk, and bookcases.
• Family Bedrooms: While grand, these were primarily functional spaces compared to public areas. However, they would have been well-appointed for the time.
• Servants’ Quarters: These were smaller, simpler rooms located in a less prominent part of the house. They highlight the social divide between the naval elite and their domestic staff.

Life in a Commandant’s House

Although luxurious by the standards of their time, life in these houses was far from relaxed. Commandants and their families followed strict social protocols.

• A Public Life: The line between private and official life was blurred. The family was always “on display” and under scrutiny from the Navy and the local community.
• Domestic Management: Commandants’ wives often played pivotal roles, managing the complex household, overseeing servants, and planning elaborate social events.
• Children in the House: While providing a privileged upbringing, these homes were also subject to military discipline. Children had to follow rules and expectations for behavior.

Changes Over Time

Like any home, the Commandant’s Houses didn’t stand frozen in time. They underwent these changes:

• Technological Upgrades: The houses were updated to keep pace with modern conveniences from gas lighting to electricity and central heating to air conditioning.
• Interior Modifications: As tastes shifted, rooms might be redecorated, walls removed, and modern amenities installed.
• Shifting Roles: As the Navy evolved, so did the role of these homes. Some eventually became offices or museums.