Mount Beacon Incline Railway and Power House
Why it's listed
Mount Beacon Incline Railway climbs the west face of Mt. Beacon above the Hudson Highlands, with a brick power house at the summit. Engineered by Otis Elevator Co. and built by Mohawk Construction Co., it entered service in 1901 or 1902, since the opening date is reported both as July 4, 1901 and Memorial Day 1902. Two cars on iron rails with wood ties ran on a single cable over a drum in the power house, rising about 2,364 feet at an average incline of 64 degrees. It was reputed to be the steepest cable railway of its kind in the world. The power house is a one-story brick building on a stone foundation with a stepped gable roof. It is the only survivor of the summit complex, which included the Beaconcrest Hotel and two casinos. The railway ran until 1971 and was valued for engineering and for bringing visitors to the Highlands' views.
Significance in brief: The railway is cited as significant in the history of engineering and recreation in the Hudson Highlands. It was reported to be the steepest cable railway of its kind in the world when built in 1901. It also helped the public appreciate the region's scenic qualities, and it retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship despite the loss of supporting structures.
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 82001151, listed November 23, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Howland Ave. and Wolcott St., Beacon/Fishkill |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 23, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001151 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Railway engineered by Otis Elevator Co. of Yonkers, N.Y.; built by Mohawk Construction Co. of Mohawk, N.Y. |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as abandoned; the incline stopped running in 1971, and the base entertainment building and the second casino burned in 1981. Deterioration is marked as a threat. |
| Acreage | 24 |
| Coordinates | 41.49102, -73.95657 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82001151.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6919649
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.