Arnold, Benjamin Walworth, House and Carriage House
Why it's listed
Overlooking Washington Park in Albany, this pair of buildings was designed by Stanford White of the New York firm McKim, Mead and White. The brick house at State Street and Sprague Place and the carriage house a half block away were built in 1904-05 for Benjamin Walworth Arnold, a lumber dealer, banker and philanthropist. Both are faced in Flemish bond brick with white marble trim, and the house rises from a high marble basement with a porch of paired Ionic columns. Inside are mahogany paneling, plaster strapwork ceilings and a conservatory off the dining room. They are the only buildings White designed in Albany, and contemporary newspapers noted the distinctive Colonial style. The house later served as a fraternity house and dormitory before the Albany Catholic Diocese bought it in 1956 for offices and the bishop's residence. The carriage house was an automobile repair shop for about twenty years and was then converted to offices in 1977. Both remain in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the buildings are significant examples of Colonial Revival architecture. They are the only works in Albany by Stanford White of McKim, Mead and White. The house is also tied to Benjamin Walworth Arnold, a wealthy lumber dealer, banker and philanthropist.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003342, listed July 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 465 State St. and 307 Washington Ave., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | July 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003342 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Stanford White, Architect |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is occupied by diocesan chancery offices and serves as the bishop's residence; the carriage house was rehabilitated in 1977 as insurance offices and remains in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.66275, -74.25649 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003342.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4889362
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.