Copake Iron Works Historic District
Why it's listed
Within Taconic State Park near Copake Falls, New York, about 18 acres hold the remains of the Copake Iron Works, an iron-producing complex established near the middle of the 19th century. The core centers on a c. 1872 charcoal blast furnace, now deteriorated and stripped of its stone veneer, along with retaining walls, a penstock, a railroad bridge abutment, an ironworks office with a brick powder house, a brick blowing engine house with a machine and pattern shop, and several modest workers' houses. The Greek Revival house built for Isaac Chesbrough, a partner in the company, is now the park manager's residence. The works belonged to the Salisbury Iron District, which spans parts of four states. It is described as arguably the most complete and readable 19th-century ironworks in that region. Most surviving features relate to the Miles family, who expanded the operation after 1862. Undisturbed ground suggests further archaeological potential.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is arguably the most complete and readable example of a 19th-century rural ironworks in the four-state Salisbury Iron District. Most surviving features date from the Miles family's operation, including the c. 1872 blast furnace and a later narrow-gauge railroad. The district also has high potential for historic archaeological remains.
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 07000334, listed April 18, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Taconic State Park, Copake Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | April 18, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000334 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century: Greek Revival, Picturesque; other: vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The blast furnace is described as being in an advanced state of deterioration. Several buildings now serve park functions such as a maintenance facility, a manager's house, rental cabins and a museum. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 42.12107, -73.51702 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 07000334.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5168285
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.