Rhinecliff Hotel
Why it's listed
Built around 1855, this large L-shaped frame hotel sits on a steep, narrow lot at the west end of Schatzell Avenue in Rhinecliff, between the Hudson River railroad tracks and the village streets. It rises two stories on the east side and three on the riverside, with clapboard siding, a cross-gable metal roof, broad eaves with exposed rafters and a two-tiered verandah wrapping the west and north sides. Inside, long halls flanked by single boarding rooms survive on the upper floors, along with an original staircase in the south wing and early twentieth-century pressed-tin ceilings in the public rooms. The hotel is considered important as one of the last surviving river-front hotels in the Hudson Valley and as evidence of how Rhinecliff grew from a ferry and steamboat landing into a railroad-side commercial center. Its restrained Picturesque details reflect mid-nineteenth-century regional taste, and a four-stall carriage shed recalls the carriage era. It has operated continuously, serving travellers, boarders and local patrons.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is a distinctive example of the hotel architecture built at Hudson River landings in the later nineteenth century and is one of the last surviving river-front hotels in the Hudson Valley. It documents Rhinecliff's role first as a ferry landing and then as a railroad stop. It also reflects late Greek Revival and early Picturesque taste in the region.
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 87001087, listed July 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Schatzell Ave., Rhinecliff |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001087 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder George Veitch (according to local tradition) |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival/early Picturesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and in continuous use as a hotel with a tavern; the form describes it as in full occupation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hudson River Heritage Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.91973, -73.95236 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 87001087.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7320563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.