Steenburg Tavern
Why it's listed
Set back from busy Route 9 about a mile south of Rhinebeck village, this stone house began as a one-room dwelling around 1750 and was extended northward around 1780-90. It has thick, roughly coursed stone walls, a broad gable roof, Dutch-style double doors and six-over-six windows. The front is stuccoed and the gable ends are clad in horizontal boards. A twentieth-century kitchen wing, shed dormer and rear deck were added later. Inside, exposed beams, wide floorboards and a corner stair survive, along with a rare smoking chamber in the garret. Local tradition remembers it as a Revolutionary War era tavern and later as a dependency of the Livingston family's Grasmere estate. Its builder and first occupants are unknown. The house is valued as a clear example of Hudson Valley vernacular building, probably tied to Palatine German settlers, and for showing how such houses grew from one room to two. A mid-to-late nineteenth-century carriage barn and privy also survive in a wooded, secluded setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare and distinctive example of eighteenth-century Hudson River regional ethnic vernacular architecture, probably linked to Palatine German builders. It shows how a one-room house grew into a two-room plan and retains a rare surviving smoking chamber in the garret. Its side-wall entrances differ from other German-type stone houses. Two intact nineteenth-century outbuildings and a secluded rural setting add to its value.
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 87001070, listed July 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 9, Rhinebeck |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001070 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Regional ethnic vernacular stone house (Hudson Valley Dutch, French and German tradition) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and used as a private residence; no threats known. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hudson River Heritage Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.91004, -73.90863 (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 87001070.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707359
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.