Old Colony Club
Also known as: American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Why it's listed
Built between 1905 and 1908 on Madison Avenue near East 30th Street, this five-story brick clubhouse was designed for the Colony Club, a private women's club founded by prominent social and civic leaders. Kendall and Baldwin of McKim, Mead & White designed it under Stanford White's supervision, adapting domestic Georgian architecture to a larger institutional building. Its brick is laid with only headers, and the facade carries a carved stone balustrade, French doors and a fanlighted entrance. The club offered a swimming pool, gymnasium, restaurants, bedrooms and a roof garden, and it was the first New York women's organization to build its own clubhouse. Elsie de Wolfe decorated the interiors, her first commission. The Colony Club later moved to Park Avenue. In 1963 the American Academy of Dramatic Arts bought the building, restored the exterior, remodeled the interior and made it a school and theater. Few original interior features remain apart from the front main-floor rooms.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of Georgian Revival architecture by a renowned firm, with delicate details and unusual all-header brickwork devised by Stanford White. It was the first clubhouse built by a women's organization in New York City. Its interiors were the first commission of Elsie de Wolfe, regarded as America's first interior decorator.
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 80002706, listed April 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 120 Madison Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | April 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002706 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | McKim, Mead & White (Kendall & Baldwin) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in educational use as the home and school of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts; exterior restored and interior largely remodeled in 1963; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74551, -73.98463 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80002706.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q964460
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.