First Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built between 1875 and 1877, First Baptist Church at 260 Mill Street in Poughkeepsie is a brick Gothic Revival church designed by local architect James S. Post. Its composition combines three masses: the main rectangular body, a front entry pavilion, and a tall bell tower. Gothic arched windows and doors, buttresses, belt courses and scalloped slate roof tiles give it a richly detailed exterior, with alternating dark and light stone around the window arches. The Vassar Brothers gave strong financial support to construction. After the financial panic of 1876 the plans were altered and the spire was omitted and never built. The church was dedicated on October 16, 1877. At the time it was considered one of the largest and best-built churches in the city, on what was then the most fashionable residential street. It is regarded as the city's best example of High Victorian Gothic architecture, and its intact wooden interior, including an elaborate screen behind the altar, pews and balconies, adds to that standing.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the best example of High Victorian Gothic architecture in the City of Poughkeepsie and one of the most outstanding ecclesiastical buildings in the city and surrounding area. It was among the largest and best-built churches in the city when Mill Street was its most fashionable residential street. Its intact Gothic interior woodwork reflects 19th-century Gothic decoration.
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 01000774, listed July 25, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 260 Mill St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 25, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000774 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James S. Post of Poughkeepsie (architect) |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; recorded in 1980 as in good condition, with a modern wing added at the southeast (rear) in 1956. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.70532, -73.92809 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 01000774.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452426
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.