Traver House
Why it's listed
Built in two stages, this farmhouse on Wynkoop Lane near Rhinebeck combines a stone main block of about 1730 with a frame addition of about 1790 on the south end. It sits on a slight rise on a 3.2-acre lot, set into a hillside so that the road side shows two full stories and the rear shows one. The slate gable roof, brick end chimneys and deeply inset sash windows are typical of the area. The main entrance is on the north gable end, facing away from the road, a feature associated with German-built houses. The nomination treats the house as a good example of the regional vernacular stone tradition of the Hudson Valley, comparable to several other Rhinebeck stone houses. The builder and first occupants are unknown. The name comes from the Traver family, who owned it in the mid- to late nineteenth century. A dry-laid eighteenth-century well, a nineteenth-century well house and stone retaining walls survive, and wooded land around the property preserves its rural setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important example of the regional vernacular stone building tradition of eighteenth-century Rhinebeck. It shows traits typical of Dutch, French and German stone houses, with features pointing to a likely Palatine German origin. It could also inform a future study of Hudson Valley settlement-period architecture. The surviving eighteenth-century well, nineteenth-century well house and stone retaining walls add to its significance.
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 87001069, listed July 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Wynkoop Ln., Rhinebeck |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001069 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Regional vernacular stone building tradition |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence, in good condition, with no known threats. A ca. 1959 rear wing and a ca. 1930 garage are non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 3.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.94163, -73.89700 (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.
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 87001069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7836121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.