Steepletop
Also known as: Edna St. Vincent Millay House
Why it's listed
Steepletop is an estate of roughly 700 to 800 acres near Austerlitz, New York, where poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived with her husband, Eugen Boissevain, from 1925 until her death in 1950. The main house is a two-story white clapboard building with a steep gable roof and central chimney, said to date from about 1870. Nearby are an ice house, a large barn, a stable, a late eighteenth-century guest house, and a small unpainted-board cabin where Millay worked. The cabin appears unchanged since her death, and the house holds her books, dresses, furniture and other belongings. Millay rose to fame with "Renascence" and became a leading figure of the Greenwich Village bohemian circle of the 1920s. She won the Pulitzer Prize and wrote many volumes of verse at Steepletop. The property was recognized because the house and outbuildings reflect her personality and serve as a memorial to her life.
Significance in brief: It was the home of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay from 1925 until her death in 1950, and she wrote many volumes of verse there. The house and outbuildings reflect her personality and form a memorial to her life. Millay was a leader of the 1920s Greenwich Village bohemian movement and earned a wide audience with poems such as "Renascence."
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 71000534, listed November 11, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Austerlitz on E. Hill Rd., Austerlitz |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | November 11, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000534 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 11, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and unaltered at the time of nomination; used as a private residence occupied by Millay's sister and her husband. Millay's writing cabin appears unchanged since her death. |
| Acreage | 500 |
| Coordinates | 42.32175, -73.44656 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 71000534.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12070021
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.