Tilden, Gov. Samuel J., Monument
Also known as: Tilden Monument
Why it's listed
Set on a circular mound at the center of a graded square plot in the Cemetery of the Evergreens, this monument marks the burial place of Samuel J. Tilden, born in New Lebanon in 1814. Tilden was a New York governor and reformer who broke up the Tweed ring and the Canal Ring, and who won the popular vote in the 1876 presidential election but lost in the electoral college. The monument centers on a nine and one-half ton granite sarcophagus on a four-step platform, carved with egg-and-dart ornament, lion's head and garland friezes, and anthemion motifs. A cast-bronze gate opens to three brick-arched crypts, and the center one holds Tilden's remains. Its cornice carries the inscription "I still trust the people." Ernest Flagg, newly returned from studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, designed it in 1895-96, and it was his first identified commission after returning. It remains largely intact despite vandalized wreaths and weathering.
Significance in brief: The monument is presented as an outstanding example of Beaux-Arts inspired Neoclassical funerary art by architect Ernest Flagg, and was his first identified commission after returning from training in Paris. It also commemorates Tilden, a New York governor and reformer who won the 1876 popular vote for president but lost in the electoral college.
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 06000573, listed July 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cemetery Rd., New Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | July 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000573 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Flagg, Ernest; architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Substantially intact since construction, apart from lost bronze wreaths (vandalized, now in storage), removed evergreen screening, mortar loss and some stone weathering. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.47503, -73.38552 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 06000573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5588535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.