Salmagundi Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1852-53 for Irad Hawley, president of the Pennsylvania coal company, this four-story townhouse at 47 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is an early example of the Anglo-Italianate style that replaced the waning Greek Revival for high-style building. Its smooth brownstone facade sits above a rusticated basement, with ornament concentrated around the main-floor openings: an arched entrance with a pediment on acanthus consoles, modillioned window lintels, and iron balconies. It once belonged to a row of elegant homes of wealthy merchant families, and is now flanked by taller buildings. The Salmagundi Club, founded in 1871 as an artists' club, bought the house in 1917 and has used it as a clubhouse since. Inside, double parlors with Corinthian-columned arches, carved marble mantelpieces and rosewood doors survive, along with a Gothic Revival dining room now serving as part of the gallery, where members' artwork is exhibited.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the earliest stately Anglo-Italianate townhouses on lower Fifth Avenue and one of the first with an entirely brownstone facade. It is a good, well-preserved example of the style in urban residences. Its interior, including the double parlors and Gothic Revival dining room, is among the few surviving Italianate rooms in the grand manner in New York City.
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 74001275, listed July 25, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 47 5th Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | July 25, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001275 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852-1853 |
| Architectural style | Anglo-Italianate (with Gothic Revival former dining room) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent, unaltered and on its original site; in use as a private artists' clubhouse and art gallery since 1917. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.73415, -73.98290 (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 74001275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7405383
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.