document_title: List of the oldest buildings in the United States

question_text: where is the oldest house in america located

root

text: Pre-16th century[edit]

text:
Building
Image
Location
State
First Built
Use
Notes

Ancestral Puebloan communities

New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah
NM
AZ
CO
UT
750 – Pueblo construction began in AD 750, and ended around 1300 AD with the third era of the Pueblo people.
Villages
Majority of settlements abandoned, but some very well preserved. Buildings have been within the United States since the Mexican Cession of 1848.

Taos Pueblo

north of the modern city of Taos
NM
1000 – Built between 1000 and 1450
Residential
Said to be the oldest continuously inhabited houses still occupied. Buildings have been within the United States since the Mexican Cession of 1848.[1]

Acoma Pueblo

on top of a 367-foot (112 m) sandstone mesa in Cibola County
NM
1000 – Built between 1000 and 1200
Residential
Said to be the oldest continuously inhabited site in the United States. Buildings have been within the United States since the Mexican Cession of 1848.

tag: table

text: 16th century[edit]

text:
Building
Image
Location
State
First Built
Use
Notes

Cathedral of San Juan Bautista

Old San Juan
PR
1521
Religious
Part of the San Juan National Historic Site. Oldest church building in the U.S. and its territories, originally built in its modern day location (extensive additions and renovations). The Cathedral has been on U.S. territory since Puerto Rico was annexed in 1898.

San José Church

Old San Juan
PR
1532
Religious
Part of the San Juan National Historic Site. Additions and renovations over the centuries. The church has been on U.S. territory since Puerto Rico was annexed in 1898.

La Fortaleza

Old San Juan
PR
1533
Government
Part of the San Juan National Historic Site. Oldest executive mansion in the New World. Extensive reconstructions took place over the centuries. Building has been within the U.S. since 1898 when Puerto Rico was annexed.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Old San Juan
PR
1539
Government
Part of the San Juan National Historic Site. Construction started in 1539, with extensive additions over the centuries. Building has been within the U.S. since 1898 when Puerto Rico was annexed.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida
FL
1565
Religious
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is the first parish in North America and is located in St. Augustine Florida. It is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of St. Augustine. The existing structure was constructed over five years (1793–1797) and was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970.

text: 17th century[edit]

text:
Building
Image
Location
State
First Built
Use
Notes

Porta Coeli

San Germán
PR
1609
Religious
The church has been on US territory since Puerto Rico was annexed in 1898.

Palace of the Governors

Santa Fe
NM
1610
Government
Oldest seat of colonial government (Spanish). Building has been within the United States since the Mexican Cession of 1848.[2]

San Miguel Mission

Santa Fe
NM
1610
Government/religious
Said to be the oldest church structure built in the United States. The original adobe walls and altar were built by the Tlaxcalan of Mexico, but much of the structure was rebuilt in 1710. Building has been within the United States since the Mexican Cession of 1848.[3]

Fairbanks House

Dedham
MA
1637
Residential
Oldest house in the United States of timber-frame construction. Date verified using dendrochronology.[4]

C. A. Nothnagle Log House

Gibbstown
NJ
c. 1638–1643
Residential
Purportedly the oldest surviving log house in the U.S. and the oldest house in New Jersey.

A carpenter's shed

Gardiners Island
NY
1639
Residential
The oldest surviving wooden structure built in New York and was purportedly built when Lion Gardiner first settled on the island.

Henry Whitfield House

Guilford
CT
1639
Residential
Oldest stone American Colonial house;[5] oldest house in Connecticut.

Jamestown Church

Jamestown
VA
1639–1643
Religious
Oldest church building in the eastern US (though only the foundations remain from the original brick building).

Loomis Homestead

Windsor
CT
1640
Residential
One of the oldest timber-frame houses in America. The oldest part of the house was built in 1640 by Joseph Loomis, who came to America from England in 1638. Later additions to the Loomis house were made around the turn of the 18th century. It is now a part of the Loomis Chaffee School.

Richard Sparrow House

Plymouth
MA
1640
Residential
Oldest house in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Broad Bay Manor

Virginia Beach
VA
c. 1640 or c. 1660
Residential
Purportedly the oldest extant European-built house in the southeastern United States. Built by Thomas Allen either c. 1640[6] or c. 1660[7] on land granted to him by Governor Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr. The small center portion of what is now a much larger structure, it was primarily constructed from Flemish bond brick. Corroborative dating efforts have not been performed. It has always been a private residence. It is located in the Broad Bay Colony part of northeastern Virginia Beach.[8]

Lower Swedish Cabin

Drexel Hill
PA
c. 1640–1650
Residential
One of the earliest extant examples of Swedish log construction in the United States.[9]

Wing Fort House

East Sandwich
MA
1641[10]
Residential
Oldest home in New England continuously owned by the same family; now a museum.[10]

Thomas Wheeler House

Fairfield
CT
1644–1680
Residential
Core from 1644, expanded 1680, oldest house in Bridgeport Black Rock Harbor, residence.

James Noyes House

Newbury
MA
1646
Residential
Reverend James Noyes left Wiltshire, England, with his brother, Nicholas Noyes and cousin, Thomas Parker, bound for MA in the mid 1630s and built this house, which still stands, in 1646.

Saugus Iron Works

Saugus
MA
1645
Industrial
The Saugus Iron Works was the 17th century equivalent of a modern-day steel mill. It was a large, sophisticated industrial operation—equal to anything in Europe—and it was built only 25 years after the Pilgrims arrived.

De Vargas Street House

Santa Fe
NM
1646
Residential
Previously claimed to be oldest house in the United States and Santa Fe.

General Israel Putnam House

Danvers
MA
c. 1648
Residential
Recorded in the National Register of Historic Places. The house is now operated by the Danvers Historical Society and open by appointment.

Old House

Cutchogue
NY
1649
Residential
One of the oldest houses in the state; moved in 1661 to present site from Southold.

Pickering House

Salem
MA
1651
Residential
Located in the Chestnut Street District.

Home of Henry Adams

Medfield
MA
1652
Residential
Home of Henry Adams, the great uncle of President John Adams, who was killed on the doorstep of this home by Metacomet's Indians.

Wyckoff House

Brooklyn
NY
1652
Residential
Oldest house in New York City.[11]

White Horse Tavern

Newport
RI
1652
Tavern
Oldest tavern in America.[12] Originally constructed in 1652 as a residence, converted to a tavern in 1673.[13]

Block House

Claymont
DE
1654
Residential
One of the oldest structures in Delaware, built by the Swedish.

Ryves Holt House

Lewes
DE
1655
Residential
Purportedly the oldest house in Delaware.

Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead

East Elmhurst
NY
1656
Residential
Oldest occupied residential structure in Queens, New York.

John Trull House

Billerica
MA
1657
Residential
Still a private residence.

Newman-Fiske-Dodge House

Wenham
MA
1658
Residential
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Old Halsey House

Southampton
NY
1660
Residential
Built by Thomas Halsey, an English pioneer, the house is now a museum.

Stephen Northup House

North Kingstown
RI
ca. 1660–1661 (possibly rebuilt)
Residential
possibly burned during King Philip's War in the 1670s and rebuilt, later modifications 1712, 1850, 2004

Thomas Lee House

East Lyme
CT
1660–1664
Residential
One of the oldest wood-frame houses in Connecticut still in its primitive state.

James Blake House

Boston
MA
c. 1661
Residential
Oldest house in the city of Boston.

John Bowne House

Flushing, Queens
NY
c. 1661
Residential
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Reverend James Keith Parsonage

West Bridgewater
MA
1662
Residential
Preserved and maintained by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society.

Bronck House

Coxsackie
NY
1663
Residential
Oldest house in upstate New York.

Richard Jackson House

Portsmouth
NH
1664
Residential
Oldest house in New Hampshire.[14]

Pickman House

Salem
MA
1664
Residential
Located on Charter Street behind the Peabody Essex Museum, the oldest continually operated museum in America. The house abuts the Witch Memorial and is also next to the second oldest burying ground in America. The house is private, owned by the Peabody Essex Museum and not open for tours.

Gedney House

Salem
MA
1665
Residential
Allegedly the second oldest house in the City of Salem, located in the Chestnut Street District and operated as a non-profit museum by Historic New England. The house is rarely open to the public, though private tours can be arranged.

Bacon's Castle

Surry
VA
1665
Residential
Located at 465 Bacon's Castle Trail, this is perhaps the oldest non-ruined building with satisfactorily credible age authentication still standing in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the oldest brick buildings still standing in the United States. If Broad Bay Manor's age is authenticated, it could predate Bacon's Castle by up to 25 years.

Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House

Staten Island
NY
1665 c.
Residential
Built by Pierre Billiou, a French Huguenot pioneer, the house is now a museum.

Alexander Standish House

Duxbury
MA
1666
Residential
Home of the son of Pilgrim Capt. Miles Standish.

Jabez Howland House

Plymouth
MA
1667
Residential
Only extant house in Plymouth occupied by Pilgrims. John Howland and his wife, Elizabeth Tilley Howland, who both came over on the Mayflower, spent their winters here with their son, Jabez, one of their ten children. Also a National Historic Landmark.[15]

Peter Tufts House

Medford
MA
1667–1668
Residential
Some historians consider it to be the oldest all-brick house in the United States.

House of the Seven Gables

Salem
MA
1668
Residential
National Historic Landmark, setting of the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel.

Thomas Follansbee (or Follansby) House

New Castle
NH
ca 1668
Residential
Thomas Follansbee was a joiner (carpenter), so he probably built the house himself. He also built various buildings in what is now the Strawbery Banke historic district of Portsmouth, NH.

Timothy Knapp House

Rye
NY
1670
Residential
Considered the oldest residential property in Westchester County, New York. The property has been owned by only five families between 1663 and 1992. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Abraham Manee House

Staten Island
NY
1670
Residential
The Abraham Manee House, also known as the Manee-Seguine Homestead, is a three-part Colonial Dutch dwelling similar to the Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House in Old Town, and was designated a New York City landmark in 1984.

Stanton-Davis Homestead Museum

Stonington
CT
1670–1700
Farmhouse
The farm has been worked every year since 1654.

Ephraim Hawley House

Trumbull
CT
1670–1690
Residential
Oldest house in the historic area of Nichols.

Newport Tower

Newport
RI
1670 c. (disputed to be older)
Commercial
Colonial windmill.[16] No roof or floors since the mid-18th century.

Nehemiah Royce House

Wallingford
CT
1672
Residential
A typical saltbox, this house was visited by George Washington in 1775.

John Woodward House

Newton
MA
c. 1671
Residential
Built by John Woodward in what is now the Waban neighborhood, this is one of the oldest homes in Newton. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Castillo de San Marcos

St. Augustine
FL
1672–1695
Government
Oldest masonry fortification in the United States.

Old Trinity Church, Maryland

Church Creek
MD
1675
Religious
Church building in continuous use; as such, oldest in the United States.[17]

Narbonne House

Salem
MA
1675
Residential
The house is on the waterfront in Salem and is part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. The site has 12 historic structures, including the Customs House, and a replica of the sailing ship Friendship of Salem.

Conference House

Staten Island
NY
c. 1675
Residential
Only pre-Revolutionary manor house still surviving in New York City.

Hoxie House

Sandwich
MA
c. 1675
Residential
One of the oldest houses on Cape Cod.

The Witch House

Salem
MA
c. 1675
Residential
Also called the Jonathan Corwin House, this was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin [18] and is the only structure still standing in Salem, Massachusetts with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692.[19] Even though Jonathan Corwin's descendants claim the house was built in 1642, most historians now believe the house was built c. 1675.[20] The house, located in the Chestnut Street District, is now a museum operated by the City of Salem and is open seasonally.

Edward Sewall Garrison

Exeter
NH
1676
Residential

Harlow Old Fort House

Plymouth
MA
1677
Residential
Built in 1677 by Sergeant William Harlow, using timbers from the Pilgrims' original fort on Burial Hill.

Edward Searle House

Cranston
RI
1677
Residential
The house was rebuilt in 1677 on the site of the original 1670 structure, destroyed by Native Americans during King Philip's War.

John Whipple House

Ipswich
MA
1677
Residential
In 2005 a dendrochronology test determined that the earliest surviving part of the house was actually built in 1677. A major addition of roughly equal size was built in 1690, and there are various later additions.

Coffin House

Newbury
MA
c. 1678
Residential
Built by Tristram Coffin, Jr., in 1678, the property remained within the Coffin family until acquired by Historic New England in 1929. It is now a museum.

Boelson Cottage

Philadelphia
PA
c. 1678–84
Residential
Built sometime between 1678 and 1684; oldest extant structure in Fairmount Park and possibly the oldest extant house in Philadelphia.

Smith's Castle

Wickford
RI
1678
Residential
One of the oldest houses in Rhode Island, now a museum.

Clement Weaver House

East Greenwich
RI
1679
Residential
Oldest privately owned house in Rhode Island.[21]

John Balch House

Beverly
MA
c. 1679
Residential
John Balch received the deed to the land on which the house sits in 1635; the building was constructed by Balch's son and grandson in 1678/1679,[22] and is one of the oldest continuously privately deeded properties in the United States. The original structure in the front dates to 1679, while the back half addition is dated to 1721;[22] these data have been verified using dendrochronology.

Curzon Mill

Newburyport
MA
1680
Industrial
The Curzon Grist Mill was originally built in 1680 by Sgt. John Emery. It was rebuilt in 1750.

Peak House

Medfield
MA
1680
Residential
One of the earliest surviving examples of Post-medieval English (Elizabethan) architecture in the United States. Was originally built in 1651 but was reconstructed after it was burned down during King Philip's War.

Paul Revere House

Boston
MA
c. 1680
Residential
Oldest building in downtown Boston.[23]

William Penn Guest House

New Castle
DE
c. 1680
Residential
Oldest buildings in New Castle.[citation needed] Purportedly where William Penn lodged after first arrival in America.

Hurd House

Woodbury
CT
c. 1680
Residential
The older, north section, dates to around 1680 and was the home of John Hurd, who became the town’s miller in 1681. The south section, which may have originally been the home of Hurd’s son, was added to the older structure in 1718, to increase the overall size of the house.

John Adams Birthplace

Quincy
MA
1681
Farmhouse
Oldest existing building within which a future President of the United States was born (John Adams, October 30, 1735)
[24]

Old Ship Church

Hingham
MA
1681
Religious
Oldest church in continuous ecclesiastical use in the United States; only remaining 17th-century Puritan meeting house in America.[25]

St. Luke's Church

Smithfield
VA
1682
Religious
Recent dendrochronology studies confirm the 1682 date of this National Historic Landmark.[26]

Wall House

Cheltenham Township
PA
1682
Residential
Possibly the oldest stone house in Pennsylvania. Built for Richard Wall, the founder of Cheltenham Township.

Third Haven Meeting House

Talbot County
MD
1682
Religious
Oldest Quaker meeting house in the United States.

Parson Capen House

Topsfield
MA
1683
Residential
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.[27] The Topsfield Historical Society currently operates it as a historic house museum.[28]

Caleb Pusey House

Upland
PA
1683
Residential
Only extant building known to have been visited by William Penn. Completed in 1696.

Sgt. George Flint House

North Reading
MA
prior to 1684
Residential
The Sgt. George Flint House is owned by the North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society, which also owns the Rev. Daniel Putnam House in North Reading (built in 1720).

Old Indian Meeting House

Mashpee
MA
1684
Religious
Oldest Native American church.

John Ward House

Salem
MA
1684
Residential
The John Ward House is a National Historic Landmark at 132 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, located in the Downtown Salem District and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1968.

Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow
NY
1685
Religious
Oldest church in the State of New York.

Sign of the Bird in Hand

Newtown Borough
PA
1686
Tavern
Originally a residence, then tavern with other uses. Oldest frame house still standing in Pennsylvania. Famous as the site of the 1778 Newtown Skirmish during which Loyalists killed 5 and captured 16 to acquire cloth being manufactured for use by Washington's troops at Valley Forge. Now a private residence.[citation needed]

Jethro Coffin House

Nantucket
MA
1686
Residential
Oldest house on Nantucket.[29] It was declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1968.[30][31]

William Murray House

Salem
MA
1688
Residential
A historic house at 39 Essex Street.

Wilbor House

Little Compton
RI
1690
Residential
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, the house serves as the headquarters of the Little Compton Historical Society.

Acadian House

Guilford
CT
c. 1690
Residential
The house gets its name after the Acadians who resided there following the 1755 Great Expulsion.[32]

Farmar Mill

Fort Washington
PA
c. 1690
Mill
Oldest surviving mill in Pennsylvania.

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

Newbury
MA
c. 1690
Residential
One of the oldest stone buildings in New England, now a nonprofit museum.

Hyland-Wildman House

Guilford
CT
1690 – c. 1710
Residential
Open to the public since 1918.[33] Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Thomas Hastings House

Newton
MA
c. 1693
Residence
Built by Thomas Hastings circa 1693 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Parker Tavern

Reading
MA
1694
Tavern
Parker Tavern is now a museum owned by the Reading Antiquarian Society.

Old Quaker Meeting House

Flushing, Queens
NY
1694
Religious
The only surviving example in New York State of a typical 17th-century ecclesiastical frame structure of medieval design.[34]

Pink House

Charleston
SC
1694–1712
Residential
Built by John Breton in the city's French Quarter, the house is one of the oldest buildings in South Carolina and the oldest building in Charleston.

Abraham Browne House

Watertown
MA
c. 1694–1701
Residential
Built by Abraham Browne, the house is the oldest remaining in Watertown. It is owned by Historic New England and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wren Building

Williamsburg
VA
1695
School
Oldest school building in America, original The College of William & Mary structure.[35]

Merion Friends Meeting House

Merion Station
PA
1695
Religious
One of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in America.

John Sherburne House

Portsmouth
NH
1695
Residential

Holy Trinity Church

Wilmington
DE
1698–99
Religious
Oldest Swedish church in the United States. The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.[36]

Great Friends Meeting House

Newport
RI
1699
Religious
Expanded in 1730, 1807, 1857, and 1867 to accommodate the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends.

Hoyt-Barnum House

Stamford
CT
c. 1699
Residential
The builder was a descendant of one of the original founders of Stamford. The structure is owned and maintained as a museum by the Stamford Historical Society.

Middleburg Plantation

Huger
SC
c. 1699
Residential
Possibly the oldest building in South Carolina. It was a plantation built by a French Huguenot Benjamin Simons in 1699 on the Cooper River near Huger, South Carolina.

Strawbery Banke

Portsmouth
NH
numerous structures – 17th–19th centuries
Residential and Industrial
Strawbery Banke is a collection of 37 historic buildings dating back to the 17th century.

text: 18th century[edit]

text: Site of Patrick Henry’s “give me liberty or give me death” with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson among other notables in attendance.

tag: p

text:
Building
Image
Location
State
First Built
Use
Notes

Jonathan Young Windmill

Orleans
MA
Early 1700s
Industrial
The Jonathan Young Windmill is a restored, working early eighteenth-century windmill with its original machinery intact, located next to Town Cove in Orleans.

Benoni Fox House

Concord
MA
1700
Residential
This is one of the oldest buildings of the Fox family in the United States.

Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church

Philadelphia
PA
1700
Religious
Oldest surviving church in Philadelphia.

Edward Morgan Log House

Towamencin
PA
1700
Residential
Home to the maternal grandfather of Daniel Boone and Daniel Morgan

Brinton 1704 House

West Chester
PA
1704
Residential
One of the oldest houses in Pennsylvania. Built by a Quaker family. A National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wayside Inn Historic District

Sudbury
MA
1707
Residential/Tavern
Located on the Old Boston Post Road and made famous in a collection of poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The Hosmer Homestead

Concord
MA
c. 1707–1710
Residential
The Hosmer Homestead, also known as the Hosmer/Baker Farm, is an historic house at 138 Baker Avenue in Concord, Massachusetts. The oldest portion of this 2-1/2 story wood frame house was probably built c. 1707 - 1710 by Stephen Hosmer, based on architectural evidence. The property has a long association with the Hosmer family, who were early settlers of Concord and who have played a significant role in the growth and civic life of the town. The house interior has well-preserved Georgian woodwork and plaster.

McIntire Garrison House

York
ME
1707 or later
Residential/Military
Possibly the oldest building in Maine.

Buckman Tavern

Lexington
MA
1709–1710
Tavern
It played a prominent role in the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775. It was declared a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Capt. Jonathan Parker House

Reading
MA
ca 1710
Residential
Still a private residence at Charles and Pearl Sts.

Buttolph-Williams House

Wethersfield
CT
1711
Residential
One of the oldest surviving homes in Wethersfield, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968.[37]

The Powder Magazine

Charleston
SC
1713
Government
Oldest public building in South Carolina. The Powder Magazine Museum.

Old State House

Boston
MA
1713
Government
Oldest surviving public building in Boston. The Bostonian Society Museum.

Perth Amboy City Hall

Perth Amboy
NJ
1714–1717
Government
Oldest city hall in US.

Samuel Chase House

West Newbury
MA
1715
Residential
A rare brick house of the period. A story passed down in the Chase family says that bricks for the house were made on the family's farm and carried to the job site by Hannah Chase in her apron.

Colonial Inn

Concord
MA
1716
Commercial
Still an operating inn and restaurant.

Benjamin Flagg House

Worcester
MA
c. 1717
Residential
Built by Capt. Benjamin Flagg, it is the oldest remaining home in Worcester. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lane House

Edenton
NC
1718–19
Residential
Oldest house in North Carolina identified by dendrochronology.

Massachusetts Hall

Cambridge
MA
1718–1720
School
Oldest extant building at Harvard University.

King of Prussia Inn

King of Prussia
PA
1719
Tavern
Granted its name to the town that grew up around it.

Rev. Daniel Putnam House

North Reading
MA
1720
Residential
Headquarters of the North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society. The society also owns the Sgt. George Flint House in North Reading, which was built prior to 1684.

Garretson Forge and Farm

Fair Lawn
NJ
1720
Residential
One of the oldest homes in Bergen County, New Jersey.

Bray House

Kittery Point
ME
c. 1720
Residential
Built on the site of an earlier structure built in c. 1662, it is among the oldest houses in Maine.[38]

Wayside Cottage

Scarsdale
NY
c. 1720
Residential
One of the oldest houses in Westchester County, NY. Owned and operated by the Junior League of Central Westchester.

Strode's Mill

West Chester
PA
C. 1721
Residential

González–Alvarez House

St. Augustine
FL
c. 1723
Residential
Probably constructed between 1723 and 1790.[39] Oldest house in St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied city in the continental United States.[40]

Alamo Mission Long Barracks

San Antonio
TX
c. 1724
Religious
The Alamo Chapel and Priests quarters and convent (Long Barracks) in San Antonio. In the center of the surrounding area are the remains of the "Long Barracks" which were constructed 20 years before the Chapel. Founded in 1718 and moved to present site 1724.

Reuben Brown House

Concord
MA
1725
Residential
Built in 1725 by the town saddler, Reuben Brown. There is also a strong tradition that the house was the home of Peter Bulkeley, which is why the house is often referred to as the Peter Bulkeley / Reuben Brown House. The evidence is still unclear whether or not the Bulkeleys did build the house some 300 years ago. What historians can conclude, however, is that the house was either completely updated or built by Reuben Brown in 1725, since most of the house's present features are typical of houses from 1700 to 1730.

Fort Niagara

Youngstown
NY
1726
Fortification
Built in 1726 by the French as a "house of peace". Taken by the British in 1759, the fledgling United States regained control by treaty in 1796. It was lost to the British in 1813, but was relinquished as a result of the Treaty of Ghent, and has remained in the hands of the United States ever since.

James Smith House

Needham
MA
1727–1728
Residential
The house was built by James Smith, a recent Irish immigrant. HIs son, Captain Robert Smith, who commanded one of the militia companies from Needham engaged in the fighting the day of the Battle of Concord Bridge, may have been born and lived here.

48 Hudson Avenue

Albany
NY
1728
Residential
Oldest stand-alone structure in Albany.

Findowrie

Albemarle County
VA
1730
Residential
Claimed as the oldest unaltered residence in Virginia.[citation needed]

Williams House, Historic Deerfield

Deerfield
MA
c. 1730
Residential
One of the oldest houses in Old Deerfield, although extensively remodeled in the 19th century. The original area of Deerfield has been preserved and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ephrata Cloister

Lancaster County
PA
1732
Religious
Last surviving resident of the Ephrata Cloister religious community died on July 27, 2008, at the age of 98.

Quackenbush House

Albany
NY
1736
Residential
Until recently considered the oldest house and structure in the city of Albany and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently the location of the Olde English Pub & Pantry.

339 Beechwood St.

Cohasset
MA
1739
Residential
Still a private residence. The story passed down is that the large buttonwood tree in front of the house was planted on the day one of the sons in the family marched off to go fight in the Revolutionary War.

Oxford Furnace

Oxford Township
NJ
1741
Furnace
First hot blast furnace in the United States.
1741

Fort Matanzas

St. Johns County
FL
1740–42
Presidio
Designated a United States National Monument on October 15, 1924.[41]

Amos Chase House

Saco
ME
ca 1743
Residential
Oldest building in Saco. It was actually two houses, one of which was brought over on logs used as rollers, and joined to the other by the industrious Amos Chase to accommodate his large family.

Old Ursuline Convent

New Orleans
LA
1748 (or 1752)
Religious
Considered the oldest building in Louisiana, and perhaps the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley[42]

Presidio La Bahía

Goliad
TX
1749
Presidio
The best preserved Spanish presidio in the United States.

Deacon Thomas Kendall House

Wakefield
MA
prior to 1750
Residential
Deacon Thomas Kendall was among the earliest settlers of the area, and an influential member of the community, serving as a selectman, commissioner, and deacon of the church for 36 years. He and his wife, Rebecca, had 10 children, and when she died, at the age of 85, she had 175 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Parlange Plantation House

Mix
LA
1750
Plantation
One of the oldest plantation homes in the South and perhaps the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley

Mount Holly Firehouse

Mount Holly
NJ
1752
Firehouse
Oldest firehouse in the United States, established by what is now the country's oldest continuously operating volunteer fire department.[43][44]

Fort de Chartres Powder Magazine

Prairie du Rocher
IL
1753–1756
Government
Oldest building in Illinois.

Pirates' House

Savannah
GA
c. 1754
Mix
Possibly the oldest building in Georgia, and the oldest building in the city of Savannah.

Josiah Day House

West Springfield
MA
c. 1754
Residential
It is believed to be the oldest known brick saltbox style house in the U.S. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort William Henry

Lake George
NY
1755
Military
Built during the French and Indian War, it was featured in James Fenimore Cooper's novel, The Last of the Mohicans.

LaPointe-Krebs House

Pascagoula
MS
1757
Mix
The oldest building in Mississippi, and the state's only surviving French Colonial structure.

General Rufus Putnam House

Rutland
MA
1760–1765
Residential
Rufus Putnam was a Revolutionary War general and later instrumental in the founding of Ohio. His home is now a B&B.

Derby House

Salem
MA
1762
Residential
Capt. Richard Derby was the first millionaire in America. The home is now part of Salem Maritime National Historic Site. The site has 12 historic structures, including the Customs House, and a replica of the sailing ship Friendship of Salem.

Proprietary House

Perth Amboy
NJ
1762
Government
Oldest remaining colonial proprietary governor's residence in the original Thirteen States.

Touro Synagogue

Newport
RI
1763
Religious
Oldest synagogue building in the United States.[45]

Fort Pitt Blockhouse

Pittsburgh
PA
1764
Defense
Oldest structure in Pittsburgh. One of the oldest colonial structures west of the Allegheny mountains.

Sandy Hook Light

Sandy Hook
NJ
1764
Lighthouse
Oldest original lighthouse in US.

St. John's Episcopal Church

Fort Washington
MD
1767
Religious
Located in the Broad Creek Historic District. The building is the 4th iteration of the church since the original was erected in 1695. [46]

Harmony Hall

Fort Washington
MD
1769
Residence
Located in the Broad Creek Historic District. It was originally known as Battersea, and overlooked the colonial port of Aire. [47]

William Henry House

Bennington
VT
1769
Residential

University Hall (Brown University)

Providence
RI
1770
School
Oldest extant building at Brown University

Maryland State House

Annapolis
MD
1772
Government
Oldest state house in continuous use in the United States.

Josiah Bartlett House

Kingston
NH
1774
Residential
Josiah Bartlett was a medical doctor, governor of New Hampshire, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Humphrey Bradstreet Farm

Rowley
MA
ca 1774
Residential
The Humphrey Bradstreet Farm is the second-oldest continuously operating farm in the United States. Humphrey Bradstreet was granted the property in 1635 by King Charles I, and it stayed in the Bradstreet family for the next 372 years, until purchased by the town of Rowley.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano
CA
1776
Mission
Oldest surviving building in California.

Fuller-Bemis House

Waltham
MA
c. 1776
Residential
One of the oldest surviving homes in Waltham. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Christopher Taylor House

Jonesborough
TN
1778
Residential
Possibly the oldest building in Tennessee, along with The Carter Mansion .[48]

Fort Putnam

West Point
NY
1778
Military
Ft. Putnam was built by the regiment of Rufus Putnam during the Revolutionary War to guard the Hudson River. It is now part of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Officer's Stone Quarters

Fort Mackinac
MI
1780
Military
Oldest building in Michigan.[49]

Hessian Barracks

Frederick
MD
c. 1780
Military
Possibly dating back to the French and Indian Wars (1754–1763), used as barracks for Hessian mercenaries during the American Revolutiony War. On the grounds of the Maryland School for the Deaf.[50]

Morven Park

Leesburg
VA
c. 1780
Residential
Home of Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis. The earliest parts of the structure were built circa 1780 and the building was significantly expanded in the decades that followed. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Peirce–Nichols House

Salem
MA
1782
Residential
Owned by the Peabody Essex Museum

Dyckman House

Inwood, Manhattan
NY
1784
Residential
Only remaining original farmhouse in Manhattan

Rehoboth Church

Union
WV
1785
Ecclesiastical
Oldest extant church in West Virginia

Rufus Putnam House and Campus Martius

Marietta
OH
1788
Residential/military
Gen. Rufus Putnam's house was built as part of the Campus Martius fort. It is now part of the Campus Martius Museum.

Historic Locust Grove

Louisville
KY
1790
Residential
Possibly the oldest building in Kentucky. In close competition with Old Providence Church, Hawkins House, Jacob Eversole Cabin, John Andrew Miller House, Millspring, and the Zachary Taylor House

Carpenter House

Rehoboth
MA
c. 1789
Residential
Built by Thomas Carpenter III circa 1789 using older materials from a building that was already on the site. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ohio Company Land Office

Marietta
OH
1791
Commercial
The oldest building in Ohio.

Louis Bolduc House

Ste. Geneviève
MO
1792
Residential
The oldest building in Missouri.

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Tohono O’odham San Xavier Indian Reservation
AZ
1797
Mission
Oldest European structure in Arizona.[51]

Molalla Log House

Molalla
OR
1799–1813
Residential/military
It is potentially the oldest building in Oregon and was possibly constructed by Russian colonists or other fur traders.[52] The next closest contenders are the Methodist Mission Parsonage c.1841, the Jason Lee House c.1841, the Delaney-Edwards House c.1845, the John McLoughlin House c.1846, and the John D. Boon House c. 1846

text: 19th century[edit]

text:
Building
Image
Location
State
First Built
Use
Notes

Grouseland

Vincennes
IN
1804
Residential
Possibly the oldest building in Indiana. It is in close competition with the Indiana Territorial Capitol.

Joel Eddins House

Huntsville
AL
1808
Residential
The oldest documented building in Alabama.[53]

Woolwich Historical Society

Woolwich
ME
1810
Residential
The society's headquarters is an 1810 farmhouse. It is possible that elements of the building date back further, since the property was occupied by the James Savage family half a century before that.

Baranov Museum

Kodiak
AK
c. 1810
Commercial
The oldest building in Alaska. It was built as a storage facility by the Russian American Company.

Ka Hale Lāʻau

Honolulu
HI
1820
Residence
The oldest wood frame structure still standing in Hawaii. It was shipped ready-made for assembly from Boston and used as a communal home by Christian missionaries.

Oak Hill

Aldie
VA
1820–1822
Residence
The mansion and plantation of President James Monroe where he lived, on and off, for 22 years. It is privately owned and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort Snelling Round Tower

Hennepin County
MN
1820–1824
Military
The oldest building in Minnesota.

Rockland

Leesburg
VA
c. 1822
Residence
Home of the locally prominent Rust family. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Woodruff Print Shop

Little Rock
AR
1824
Commercial
The oldest building in the state of Arkansas.[54]

Fort Leavenworth 'The Rookery'

Leavenworth
KS
1829
Military
The oldest building in Kansas.[55]

Louis Arriandeaux Log House

Dubuque
IA
1833
Residential
The oldest building in the state of Iowa.[56]

Rancho Petaluma Adobe

Petaluma
CA
1835-1857
Residential/Military
This large adobe ranch house was built by Colonel Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Commandante General of the "Free State of Alta California" (Northern California). Now known as the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, it is owned by the State of California and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Log Cabin

Bellevue
NE
c. 1835
Residential
The oldest building in Nebraska. It originally served as a fur trapper's home.

Hulihee Palace

Kailua, Kona
HI
1838
Residential
Originally built by John Adams Kuakini, it was later acquired by Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani and used as a vacation home for Hawaiian royalty.

Fort Gibson Barracks

Fort Gibson
OK
c. 1840
Military
The oldest building in Oklahoma.[57] In close competition with the Cherokee National Supreme Court building.[58]

Kawaiahaʻo Church

Honolulu
HI
1842
Religious
Formerly the national church of the Hawaiian Kingdom and chapel of the royal family. Designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1962.

Punahou School

Honolulu
HI
1842
Educational
Punahou was founded in 1941 for the children of Christian missionaries and is the first formal English language school west of the Rocky Mountains.

Wakely Home at Point Basse

Nekoosa
WI
1842
Residential/Tavern
This is possibly the oldest frame house in the state of Wisconsin.

Kittson Trading Post

Walhalla
ND
1843
Commercial
The oldest building in North Dakota. It was constructed by an agent of the American Fur Company.

Old Fort Benton Blockhouse

Fort Benton
MT
1844
Military
The oldest building in Montana. It was the last fur trading post on the Upper Missouri River and the terminus of the Mullan Road, the overland route that linked the Missouri and Columbia rivers.[59]

Cataldo Mission

Cataldo
ID
1848
Mission
Oldest standing building in Idaho.

Fort Laramie 'Old Bedlam' Building

Torrington
WY
1849
Military
Oldest documented building still standing in Wyoming. It served as a major fur trading post and diplomatic site during the 19th century.

Fort Nisqually Granary

Tacoma
WA
1851
Military
Oldest building in Washington State.

Stone House of John Marsh

Brentwood
CA
1855
Residential
John Marsh was the first medical doctor in California, and was instrumental in California becoming part of the United States. His home was one of the first stone mansions in the state.

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

Las Vegas, Nevada
NV
1855
Military
The oldest American structure in Nevada.[60]

Fort Garland Officer's Quarters and Barracks

Fort Garland
CO
1858
Military
The oldest American buildings still standing in Colorado. In close competition with Four Mile House c. 1859.[60]

Brinkerhoff–Becker House

Ypsilanti
MI
1863
Residential
House currently owned by Eastern Michigan University and used as student apartments. Was once owned by former Michigan State Normal School (now EMU) principal J.M.B Sill.

Fort Sisseton

Britton
SD
1864
Military
The oldest structures still standing in South Dakota.[61]


document_title: Days Gone Bye (The Walking Dead)

question_text: who was the walker rick killed in the first episode

text: Days Gone Bye (The Walking Dead)

text: Plot[edit]

text: The episode opens in medias res as former Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) scavenges for gas and supplies at an abandoned convenience store in rural Georgia on a deserted highway. He spots a little girl (Addy Miller), but she turns out to be a zombie. When she charges towards him, Rick shoots her in the head.

text: Returning to several weeks prior, Rick is seriously injured and falls into a coma while chasing down crooks, alongside his partner and childhood friend Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal). He gains consciousness in an abandoned hospital near his home. Outside, he finds a zombified woman dragging her legless body towards him. He ignores her and returns home, finding his family has long-since fled. Rick encounters Morgan Jones (Lennie James) and his son Duane (Adrian Kali Turner), and they explain the zombie apocalypse that occurred while Rick was in a coma. Morgan warns the only way to stop the zombies is to destroy the brain. Rick decides to head to Atlanta where a refugee camp is rumored to exist, though Morgan would rather stay behind. Rick splits the stash of weapons and supplies from the police station with Morgan and promises to stay in touch with a walkie-talkie. Morgan and Duane return to their home, and Morgan fires upon the zombies gathered outside, but is unable to shoot the one that had been his wife.

text: On his way out of town, Rick stops by the legless zombie. He apologizes for what happened to her and shoots her. Later, he is forced to abandon his car when he runs out of gas, continuing the rest of the way on horseback. When he radios Morgan the next day, his signal is picked up by a survivors' camp where Shane, Rick's wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), and his son Carl (Chandler Riggs) are safe. Unaware that it is Rick on the other line, they lose radio signal before they can warn him of the dangers in Atlanta.

text: In the seemingly empty city, Rick follows a helicopter flying overhead right into a horde of zombies. They attack him and his horse, forcing him to drop his bag of weapons and crawl under a tank, and as they follow him under it Rick contemplates suicide a split second before noticing a trapdoor to take shelter in the vehicle. After he shoots a walker inside, he hears a voice from the tank's radio sarcastically ask if he is comfortable, before the scene exits with a top down view of Atlanta overrun by the walkers.

text: Production[edit]

text: Conception[edit]

text: Robert Kirkman claimed that he had considered the idea of a television series, but never actively pursued it.[1] When Darabont became interested, Kirkman called it "extremely flattering" and went on to say that "he definitely cares about the original source material, and you can tell that in the way he's adapting it." In his interview, Kirkman exclaimed that it was "an extreme validation of the work", and continued by expressing that "never in a million years could [he] have thought that if Walking Dead were to ever be adapted that everything would be going this well."[1]

text: The Walking Dead institutes elements from George A. Romero's horror film Night of the Living Dead (1968). Darabont admitted to becoming a fan of the film at age fourteen. He insisted that the film has a "weird vibe", comparing it to that of pornography. He continued: "It had this marvelously attractive, disreputable draw [...] I loved it immediately."[2] Darabont recalled walking into a comic book store in Burbank, California and seeing The Walking Dead on the shelf in 2005.[2]

text:
Being that I've always had 'the love of zombies gene', I of course grabbed it, took it home and read it, and immediately started pursuing the rights to it. I thought it would make a great TV show. I loved the idea of an extended, ongoing, serialized dramatic presentation set in the zombie apocalypse.
“
”

Frank Darabont[2]

tag: div

text: Darabont described the process of developing the series and setting it up at a network as "four years of frustration".[2] He first initiated a deal with NBC to own copyrights to The Walking Dead, but was later declined.[3] "They were very excited about the idea of doing a zombie show until I handed them a zombie script where zombies were actually doing zombie shit," he stated.[3] Darabont credited Hurd with finally getting the series on AMC. "Gale was tremendously instrumental in jump-starting it at a point where it felt like it was languishing, "he asserted. "I'd gotten turned down enough times, which is no reflection on the material, but no matter what you're trying to sell in Hollywood, you're Willy Loman and it's Death of a Salesman. You're out there trying to sell shit that nobody wants. Even if it's good shit."[3]

text: Hurd recalled that she had heard of the comic before, and upon reading it, felt that it would be great for film.[3] She stated: "When I first read the book, I thought, 'This would be a great film,' and boy was I wrong. It's a much better TV series. Fast forward, I knew that Frank had initially developed it for NBC, which to me seemed like an odd pairing for this. Then I heard it wasn't going forward at NBC so I talked to Frank."[3] On January 20, 2010, AMC officially announced that it had ordered a pilot with Darabont and Hurd acting as executive producers; the former wrote the script and directed the episode.[4] The entire series was pre-ordered based on the strength of the source material, the television scripts, and Darabont's involvement.[5]

text: Writing[edit]

text: Darabont wrote a 60-page pilot script for "Days Gone Bye".[6] His initial script for the episode was split in half and embellished. Darabont explained that he did this to "slow the narrative down and dig into the characters more deeply, so it's not just plot-driven, event-driven stuff. You really want to drag these characters into the equation."[2] Darabont felt that instituting visual maneuvers would increase the surreal atmosphere of a scene.[6] Upon reading the script, Kirkman thought that producers were consistent with his comic, adding that they could possibly improve his initial work. "Reading that pilot was just a revelation. It's extremely faithful. There are things that are so much like the comic, I can't really remember the nuance of what's different and what's not from the comic. He's definitely being more faithful than I expected, and everything that he's changing is brilliant. I couldn't be happier. I think the fans of the book are going to just love it."[3] The episode shares its name with volume one of the comic book series.[7]

text: Cast[edit]

text: The principal photography produced a high demand for extras as zombies. In an interview with MTV News, special effects artist Greg Nicotero stated that while anyone was welcome to audition, the producers of the show were looking specifically for people who possessed exceptional height and thin features.[8][9] Casting for extras took approximately three days. Once accepted, the extras would be sent to "zombie school" for training and preparing for filming.[10] Nicotero stated that "it was interesting because I initially thought my experience with zombie movies is you just let them do whatever they want to do. George [Romero] always said, 'You show 50 people one movement, then you have 50 people doing all the same thing.' So we sort of just lined them up and said, 'Let's see what your zombie walk would look like,' and then they would do it and we would say, 'Try this or try that.' You know, sort of fine tuning everybody."[10] Alongside with Darabont, Nicotero had previously collaborated with Romero on several occasions, and looked at the structure of the zombies in his films for inspiration.[10] "It's not that I'm against [fast zombies]. It's just not what I grew up with. It's interesting, too, because a couple takes we did, where a couple of the zombies kind of broke into a run, and after one take Frank's like, 'Did they run too fast? They shouldn't be running. Slow them down.' This is trying to be creepy and moody and, you know, you're building up all this kind of scary tension."[10]

text:
I got an e-mail outlining the project. The first thing I read was AMC. I went, 'Great! I've been waiting for an AMC opportunity!' Then it said The Walking Dead. Terrific title. Then the names. Frank Darabont. Gale Anne Hurd. Great. And then it said 'zombie survival horror.' I think I actually did a literal double take. I was like, 'Really?!'
“
”

Andrew Lincoln[11]

text: In April 2010, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Jon Bernthal and Andrew Lincoln were chosen by producers for the main cast of the series. Bernthal was to portray Shane Walsh, while Lincoln provided the role of Rick Grimes, the central character of The Walking Dead.[12] While Hurd didn't expect to cast Lincoln, Kirkman was ecstatic with his acting, evaluating him as an "amazing find". In his interview with Dread Central, Kirkman added that "writing Rick Grimes month after month in the comic series, I had no idea he was an actual living, breathing human being, and yet, here he is. I couldn't be more thrilled with how this show is coming together."[13] Although he was initially shocked upon hearing of The Walking Dead,[11] Lincoln thought the episode's script was well written. "I read it and thought it was well written, and I put myself on tape just for one scene. I didn't know who was involved at this point."[14] The succeeding day, his agent called him about the development of the pilot. Lincoln described the moment as "kind of like a dream list".[10] He later communicated with Darabont via Skype; "We spoke for about 40 minutes about his ideas for the project, about what I liked about Episode One and then he asked would I fly over to come and test."[10] Lincoln flew to Darabont's home, where he viewed "Days Gone Bye" in his garage. He opined that was "brilliant" and "very intimate".[10]

text: Bernthal was extremely comfortable with his character on set. "The second he opened his mouth and started reading the scene, I knew it was him," he said. "There was no question. I saw Frank and I knew it. He's the guy. He's a wonderful actor, and he's going to kill it in this role."[10] Bernthal admitted that he had no prior knowledge of The Walking Dead. He reminisced that he reacted so "organically" to the script that he "didn't want to be colored by anything else. When I did read the comic, I was shocked. Look, I'm not going to sit here and regret. One of the great things about doing TV versus film is to be surprised yourself, to not let where you're going color where you are."[10] The pilot episode's script was amongst several other scripts for proposed television pilots that Bernthal skimmed through; He felt that this script overshadowed the others. "[It was] pilot season, and I read everything that was out there. I still remember the day that I got this script. I told my agent that I'd be thrilled to be an extra in this, it's so good. It just blew the rest of them right out of the water."[10]

text: Shortly after the announcement, Sarah Wayne Callies was approached to play the role of Rick's wife Lori Grimes, the lead female.[15] The following month, Laurie Holden claimed the role of Andrea; Holden had previously worked with Darabont in the science-fiction horror film The Mist (2007).[16] Other actors garnering roles in the main cast include Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, and Jeffrey DeMunn.[13] "Days Gone Bye" featured guest appearances from actors and actresses such as Emma Bell (Amy), Andrea's younger sister. Bell would later become part of the main cast as a recurring character.[17] Lennie James played Morgan, and Jim Coleman guest performed Lam Kendal.[18][19] Samuel Witwer, who had collaborated with Darabont in The Mist (2007), appeared as a dying soldier.[20]

text: Filming[edit]

text: The producers chose to film in Atlanta because of its proximity to Cynthiana, Kentucky, Kirkman's hometown and the setting of his comic's first issue. "At the beginning they talk about how some of the people in neighboring states would have gone to larger cities so they could fortify them and protect the population."[10] Kirkman had considered other cities, particularly New York City, Miami, and Chicago.[10] Hurd had previously filmed in the city for Lifetime.[10] Darabont felt that Atlanta offered the essentials; "Atlanta and Georgia all-told is proving to be brilliant for us in terms of what it has to offer, in terms of what the story needed, in terms of the variety of locations—it really is a fantastic place to shoot."[21] Prior to filming, Kirkman toured with Darabont around the central business district. He stated, "I tagged along on a location-scouting expedition, and that was pretty fun—watching Frank Darabont walking through the streets of Atlanta as if he owned the entire city, daring cars to hit him. That was a lot of fun."[22] Darabont ventured onto the middle of a street to grasp a perfect shot, oblivious to oncoming traffic.[22]

text: Atlanta's climate was cited as a potential issue that would hinder production. Darabont recalled that he found it difficult to adjust to the sweltering heat, adding that he "never had clothes stick to me like this in my life".[10] Lincoln retorted that it was "becoming a running joke that people arrive on set ready for the day and then they are battered and beaten up by the weather."[10] Despite such assertions, he opined that it added to the episode's overall emotion. "There's a lot of hard-earned sweat on camera. It's not comfortable and it's not pleasant, but it's as you would imagine it would be trying to survive in this world."[22]

text: Principal photography took place in the city on May 15, 2010, after AMC had officially ordered the production of six episodes for the series.[23][24] Filming took place over two months, ending in early July.[25] Locations were set up in various spots within the central business district, particularly in the Fairlie-Poplar District.[25] The season premiere was shot completely in anamorphic format on 16 mm film.[26] David Tattersall was the director of photography, while production design was headed by Greg Melton and Alex Hajdu. The special effects team included veteran makeup designer Greg Nicotero, special effects coordinator Darrell Pritchett, and visual effects supervisors Sam Nicholson and Jason Sperling.[27]

text: Computer-generated imagery was used in much of "Days Gone Bye", particularly when Rick encounters a legless walker.[28] "The woman was wearing basically blue stockings and then everything was cleaned out. There is an alarming amount of CGI in the pilot episode and in the whole show, and you would never know it," articulated Robert Kirkman.[28] Kirkman felt that Stargate Studios, which was chosen by producers to edit the pilot episode, did a splendid job. He stated: "There's a shot where Rick is riding off on the horse and his hat actually blew off, and they really liked that shot, and so they had Stargate go in and digitally put the hat back on his head."[28]

text: Marketing[edit]

text: The show's website released a motion comic based on the first issue of the original comic and voiced by Phil LaMarr.[29] The site also posted a making-of documentary, and other behind-the-scenes videos and interviews. In the documentary, Kirkman as well as artist Charlie Adlard expressed pleasure that the show is faithful to the comic and remark on the similarities between the actors and the comic's original character drawings.[30] Several scenes were screened July 23, 2010 as part of the San Diego Comic-Con in 2010.[31] Hurd asserted that "[they] really are doing six one-hour movies",[32] and Darabont insisted that the series would closely reflect the development in the comics. "The path is a very strong template. But we're going to take every interesting detour we feel like taking. As long as were staying on the path of what Robert has done, I don't see any reason not to. If they have patience we'll eventually catch up to what Robert is doing."[32]

text: The Walking Dead debuted during the same week in 120 countries. "Days Gone Bye" premiered in Hong Kong on TVB Pearl on August 30, 2011,[33] while it expanded in international markets during the first week of November.[34] Two weeks prior to its official US premiere, the contents of the episode leaked online.[35] As part of an expansive campaign to advertise and heighten anticipation for the premiere, international broadcasting affiliates of AMC and Fox coordinated a worldwide zombie invasion event days prior to the US premiere. The event occurred in twenty six cities worldwide,[36] in select locations including the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Palace of Westminster in London, Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Acropolis of Athens in Athens, and the Museo del Prado in Madrid.[36][37] The campaign events commenced in Hong Kong and Taipei, and culminated in Los Angeles.[37]

text: Themes[edit]

text: Romance is an underlying theme in "Days Gone Bye". After returning from the hospital, Grimes unsuccessfully looks for signs of his family. Determined to find them, he travels to Atlanta, which is imagined to be a haven because of its proximity to the CDC. Kirkman said of the developing storyline:

text: Well, I didn’t know how long the comic book series was going to last. I hoped that it would become a success and survive for years and years. But at that time in my career, it was very early, I had had a lot of books canceled, just because of poor sales. So early on in the book I would move past storylines very quickly. I set up this love triangle and I resolved that story and moved along within the first [few] issues. But there's a lot of story potential to mine there. One of the things that the TV show is able to do is to look at the comic book series with hindsight and go, 'This would probably be something that we could explore more.' And that's what we're going to be doing. So we'll be seeing a lot more of the Lori-Shane-Rick love triangle.[28]

text: The scene in which Grimes regains consciousness and investigates his situation is reminiscent of the British horror films The Day of the Triffids (1962) and 28 Days Later (2002).[28][38] Kirkman insisted that the similarities especially with 28 Days Later was coincidental. "I saw 28 Days Later shortly before the first issue of Walking Dead was released," he stated. "That first issue came out in October of 2003 and 28 Days Later was released in the States in June of 2003. So we were working on our second issue by the time I saw it. It was going to be a matter of somehow trying to restage the entire first issue, because it was a very similar coma opening. I made a decision—which I pretty much regret at this point—I said, 'You know what? It's so different [from that point on], I will probably never hear anything about this.' And I was wrong."[28]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Ratings[edit]

text: The episode attained 5.35 million viewers, making it the most-viewed series premiere in AMC history.[39][40] It garnered a 2.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic, translating to 3.6 million viewers according to Nielsen ratings. It subsequently attained the highest rating in the 18-49 demographic among cable television programs that year.[39] Following two encore presentations, total viewership reached 8.1 million.[40] "Days Gone Bye" became the highest-rated cable telecast ever, hitting significantly higher numbers than predecessors Swamp People and Ice Road Truckers on the History channel.[39]

text: It obtained 2.1 million viewers from the 18-34 demographic and 3.1 million from the 25–54 demographic.[40] It became the highest-rated non-sport cable program of the week, as well as the third highest-rated overall program of the week dated October 30; "Days Gone Bye" was outperformed by a game between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics as part of the 2010–11 NBA season and a match between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys as part of the 2010 NFL season.[41] It is the third most-watched installment of The Walking Dead's first season, scoring less than "Wildfire" (5.56 million),[42] and "TS-19" (5.97 million).[43] "Days Gone Bye" garnered the highest total viewership for a season premiere out of any cable program up until the airing of its successor, "What Lies Ahead", which attracted 7.3 million viewers.[44]

text: "Days Gone Bye" achieved similar success in European markets. It debuted in 120 countries in 33 languages.[40] In the United Kingdom, the episode acquired 579,000 viewers, with an estimated 315,000 from the 18-49 demographic. It became the most-watched FX telecast of the week dated November 5.[45] The terrestrial premiere (including Ireland and Scotland) aired on Channel 5 on April 10, 2011, garnering 1.5 million viewers.[46] In Italy, "Days Gone Bye" became the highest-rated telecast of the night on pay television, delivering 360,000 spectators.[47] In Spain, the pilot episode attained a 10.2% share in the television market amongst pay television programs, ultimately obtaining 105,000 viewers. It became the highest-rated series premiere on Fox that year.[47]

text: The episode performed strongly in Asian markets. In South Korea, "Days Gone Bye" secured 57,000 spectators, subsequently becoming the highest-rated program on Fox that year.[47] In Southeast Asia, total viewership hit 380,000, beating out all Western television programs. "Days Gone Bye" saw its strongest figures in Singapore and the Philippines, where its ratings exceeded the time slot average by 425% and 1,700%, respectively.[47]

text: "Days Gone Bye" achieved substantial ratings in the 18-49 demographic in several Latin American countries. In Argentina, the pilot episode attained a 3.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic, thereby outperforming the time slot average by 341% and becoming the highest-rated program in its time slot on pay television.[47] It acquired a 2.1 rating in Colombia and Peru, where it exceeded time slot averages by 176% and 970%, respectively. It became the highest-rated program in its time slot on pay television in both countries.[47] "Days Gone Bye" garnered a 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic in Venezuela, becoming the highest-rated television program of the day on pay television.[47]

text: Reaction[edit]

text: Charlie Collier, the president of AMC, stated that it was "a good day to be dead. We are so proud of this series, its depth of storytelling and the remarkable talent attached. As the network dedicated to bringing viewers the best stories on television, we are so pleased to have the opportunity with The Walking Dead to raise the bar within this popular genre and continue our commitment to being the home of premium television on basic cable."[40] Senior Vice President Joel Stillerman ascribed that much of its success came from the storytelling presented in the episode; "The Walking Dead is that rare piece of programming that works on so many levels. It is legitimately great storytelling that is not only highly entertaining, but incredibly thought provoking as well. People who are familiar with the comic books know what's coming, but suffice it to say, this is only the beginning of a long, intense, and powerful ride. Long live The Walking Dead."[40]

text: Critical response[edit]

text:
And there's no underplaying the role of AMC, too, which is creating a distinctive brand out of very different series such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Rubicon, and now The Walking Dead. AMC makes sure that all of its shows breathe and move at a deliberate and challenging pace that is anathema to the networks. Also, AMC seems to require the kind of arresting visuals most often associated with the big screen.
“
”

Matthew Gilbert
The Boston Globe[48]

text: "Days Gone Bye" was critically acclaimed. Sebastian Liver of Der Tagesspiegel insisted that the episode was setting new standards, and elaborated that it illuminates even during its timid moments.[49] Mike Ryan of Vanity Fair reflected parallel sentiments, calling it the "best new television show of the year."[50] Ryan felt that the series would broaden the audience of the horror genre, as well as attract new fans. "Finally, a horror show on television for people who hate horror. It's not that The Walking Dead isn't scary or doesn't contain gratuitous amounts of gore [...] but, where other horror projects opt for camp, The Walking Dead grounds itself in reality."[50] Writing for The Atlantic, Scott Meslow affirmed that The Walking Dead was "as dark, intelligent, and uncompromising as any of AMC's other dramas."[51]

text: St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Gail Pennington appraised "Days Gone Bye" as "genuinely terrifying", adding that despite being too gruesome for her tastes, it was "too engrossing not to watch."[52] Pennington commended the character development in the episode, stating that Darabont "finds time for the human tragedy of the situation."[52] In an A- grade review, Boston Herald journalist Mark Perigard said that the pilot episode was a "suspenseful thriller",[53] while Robert Bianco of USA Today avouched that it was "one killer of a zombie show."[54] The Wall Street Journal writer Nancy deWolf Smith felt that "Days Gone Bye" contained a cinematic quality to it; "The pilot episode [is] so good that it has hooked even a zombie hater like me."[55] Steve West of Cinema Blend praised the episode, calling it "the best pilot since Lost's introduction" and "a brilliant examination of what makes us human."[56] Leonard Pierce of The A.V. Club gave the episode an 'A-' grade, and described it as a "stunning debut".[57]

text: Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe said that the installment was "fully dynamic and engaging".[48] "The Walking Dead is a promising human story built over a sea of grunting corpses. It's a scare-fest at points [...] and it's definitely extremely bloody, as zombie guts splatter all over the place like chunky borscht. The 90-minute premiere is a gory Halloween horror event, for sure."[48] Liz Kelly and Jen Chaney of The Washington Post reacted positively to the series premiere, deeming it as a "chilling show", and exclaiming that it had a "very real sense that the world can go completely mad, and stay that way for good."[58] Kris King of Starpulse said that it was "a welcome reprieve from the camp-laden world of zombie culture."[59] Josh Jackson of Paste gave the episode an 8.8 out of 10. Jackson praised the final moments of the episode, describing it as "epic".[60] IGN's Eric Goldman issued "Days Gone Bye" a nine out of ten, signifying an "amazing" rating.[61] Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly evaluated the pilot episode as intense, and felt that it delivered above expectations. He added that it was an "instant classic".[62] Fellow journalist Dan Snierson agreed with Jensen's opinion, complimenting the show for its unpredictability.[62]

text: James Poniewozik of Time reacted positively to the episode, exclaiming that it "paints a thoroughly convincing postapocalyptic world, both visually and emotionally."[63] Variety's Brian Lowry avouched that "Days Gone Bye" was "surprisingly fresh", despite having initial thoughts of a stale premise. He wrote: "The Walking Dead draws the audience in almost instantly with its cinematic 90-minute pilot, then incorporates tasty soap-like elements meant to animate the ensuing episodes. Although we've seen no shortage of zombies and post-apocalyptic stories, producer-writer-director Frank Darabont has deftly tackled the seemingly perilous task of adapting a comic book about zombies into a viable episodic series."[64] In a three out of four star review, Linda Stasi of New York Post summarized, "The zombies are truly scary and disgusting. The survivors are terrific characters, and the gore is enough for any lunatic to love."[65]

text: Critics were polarized over Andrew Lincoln's performance. Despite citing that his accent was "dodgy", Pierce lauded Lincoln's acting. "his body language and expression here is totally different now than when we saw him before," he opined. "He's a fast learner."[57] Gilbert referred to his accent as "spotty",[48] while Goldman professed that Lincoln fit into character very well; "For much of the pilot, he's on his own and exudes a lot of believable, shocked emotion, as Rick tries to process what he is seeing.[61] Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter felt that Lincoln's performance was one of the episode's drawbacks. He wrote: "One drawback in [The Walking Dead] is that Lincoln plays his emotion a little too close to his deputy's badge. We're told – by him – that all he wants to do is find his wife and kid. His belief that they still are alive is the emotional drive of the story, but there's not enough deep pain that seeps up to coat the dialogue Lincoln delivers."[66]

text: Accolades[edit]

text: The episode received three Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series,[67] and won for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special.[68]

text: Awards and nominations[edit]

text:
Year
Award
Category
Nominee(s)
Result

2010
Directors Guild of America Award
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
Frank Darabont
Nominated

2011
Eddie Award
Best Edited One Hour Series for Commercial Television
Hunter M. Via
Won

Golden Reel Awards
Best Sound Editing – Long Form Sound Effects and Foley in Television
Walter Newman, Kenneth Young, Jerry Edemann, David Lee Fein,
Hilda Hodges, Darleen R. Stoker, Peter Reynolds
Nominated

Best Sound Editing – Long Form Dialogue and ADR in Television
Walter Newman, Kenneth Young, Darleen R. Stoker,
Lou Thomas, Bruce Honda, Skip Schoolnik
Nominated

63rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special
Greg Nicotero, Andy Schoneberg, Garrett Immel, Jake Garber,
Kevin Wasner, Howard Berger and Jaremy Aiello
Won

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
Darleen Stoker, Walter Newman, Michael Baber, Jerry Edemann,
Kenneth Young, David Lee Fein, Hilda Hodges
Nominated

Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series
Jason Sperling, Kristin Johnson, Sam Nicholson, Kent Johnson, Michael Enriquez,
Christopher D. Martin, Anthony Ocampo, Michael Cook, Greg Nicotero
Nominated

text: Legacy[edit]

text: For the show's 100th episode, "Mercy", which aired on October 22, 2017, executive producers Greg Nicotero and Scott M. Gimple wanted to create callbacks to this episode. Specifically, the episode included a near shot-for-shot remake of Rick searching for supplies among abandoned cars, though in this case, with Carl in his shoes. For this, they recast Addy Miller, now a teenager, as a walker that threatens Rick and Carl.[69] They also recast Joe Giles, who plays one of the walkers that followed Rick off the bus in Atlanta, as a walker in "Mercy". Additional scenes from "Mercy", apparently set in the future, were done to mirror the shots of Rick waking up from his coma in the hospital.[70]