Rankin, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1839 for John Rankin, a wealthy merchant, this three-story brick house at 440 Clinton Street in Brooklyn is a Greek Revival residence by an unknown architect. It was originally set in rural farm country; the surrounding area is now residential. The exterior has a stone raised basement, stone door and window trim, a wide wooden cornice, and carved anthemion stone posts beside the entrance stairs. Inside, a central hall runs the length of the house between two very large parlors, and much original pilaster and molding detail survives, along with original marble fireplaces on the upper floors. Later changes include replaced main-floor mantels, a mahogany stairway, altered window muntins, marquees, and a modern garage and chapel added at the rear for the funeral business now in the building. The nomination values the house for its architectural integrity and for its close resemblance to the demolished Brevoort House, attributed to A.J. Davis.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine, severe yet dignified example of Greek Revival architecture with exceptional exterior and interior integrity. It closely resembles the now-demolished Brevoort House, attributed to A.J. Davis. It also reflects the formal life of a wealthy merchant in what was then rural Brooklyn.
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 78001856, listed November 16, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 440 Clinton St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | November 16, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001856 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in private ownership; houses an undertaking establishment, with the owner living on the third floor. Condition listed as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.68150, -73.99850 (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 78001856.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706682
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.