Robinson, John Roosevelt "Jackie", House
Why it's listed
This two-family, semi-detached tapestry brick house at 5224 Tilden Street in Flatbush, Brooklyn, was built between 1912 and 1916. It follows an English Medieval style, with a Wenham hall type roofline and colonial-style double-hung windows. A second-floor terrace covers the front entrance, and a patio sits beside the first-floor side entrance. A white wrought-iron fence encloses the front and side. It was altered only slightly, when two of four concrete planters were removed from the front steps. Its significance rests on its link to Jackie Robinson, who in 1947 became the first Black player in modern organized major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. After living in Montreal, Robinson and his wife Rachel met housing discrimination in the United States. With help from friends, they rented the second-floor apartment of this duplex in an all-white neighborhood. The Robinsons lived here from 1947 to 1950, during his first seasons in the major leagues.
Significance in brief: Baseball player Jackie Robinson lived in the second-floor apartment from 1947 to 1950, just after he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The nomination places the house within the history of Afro-American participation in sports. It also notes the housing discrimination the Robinsons faced when they sought a home.
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 76001226, listed May 11, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5224 Tilden St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | May 11, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001226 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1947-1950 (residency); 1900- period checked |
| Architectural style | English Medieval building with Wenham hall type roof line and colonial type double-hung windows |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 11, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied private residence, in fair condition, only slightly altered by removal of two of four concrete circular planters. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.64811, -73.92724 (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 76001226.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6116628
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.