Block House, The
Why it's listed
Completed in 1843 on Governors Island in New York Harbor, this two-story brick building was first built as quarters for the commanding general and later served as a hospital. It was designed by Martin E. Thompson, a prominent architect who had also designed the Second Bank of the United States and had been in partnership with Ithiel Town from 1827 to 1829. The nearly square building sits on a random ashlar basement, with upper walls of common-bond brick, a wide stone beltcourse and a simple dentiled cornice. Ten masonry steps with curving iron railings lead to an entrance with a plain stone frame and low pediment, and a cast iron balcony projects from the north facade. The nomination values it as a very restrained example of Greek Revival design, noting its disciplined scale and the contrast of red brick with stone trim. It remains in excellent condition on its original site and is used for officers' apartments.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a distinguished example of restrained, utilitarian Greek Revival architecture. It was designed by the prominent architect Martin E. Thompson. Its red brick walls contrast with stone lintels, enframements and a beltcourse, and its north entrance enframement is especially noteworthy.
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 72000863, listed July 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Governors Island, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | July 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000863 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843 |
| Architect / builder | Martin E. Thompson (architect) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition on its original site; present uses include military and officers' apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Governors Island |
| Coordinates | 40.68901, -74.01389 (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 72000863.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2888910
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.