Watson, James, House
Also known as: Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary; Shrine of Blessed Elizabet
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Why it's listed
Number 7 State Street in Lower Manhattan is a Federal-style brick townhouse built in two stages. The eastern section, two bays of a larger five-bay house, went up in 1793 for James Watson, who later sold off the easternmost part to a neighbor. The western section followed in 1806 under owner Moses Rogers. Because State Street bends at this spot, the addition was fitted with a large curved portico, with square wood piers on the ground floor and slender Ionic columns above. The 1793 portion has been attributed to John McComb, better known for his work on New York's City Hall. The house has three stories, an attic, Flemish bond brickwork, and a wood cornice with modillions and a balustrade. State Street once held many grand residences, and this is the last Federal townhouse remaining there. A 1964-65 restoration, based on an 1859 print, returned its original appearance, making it a rare surviving example of Federal-period urban architecture.
Significance in brief: It is the last of the Federal townhouses that once lined State Street, which was laid out near the end of the 18th century as a street of impressive residences. Its curved colonnaded portico solved the problem of the bend in the street. The 1793 section has been attributed to John McComb. A 1964-65 restoration returned the house to its original appearance.
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 72000891, listed July 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 State St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | July 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000891 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries; east portion 1793, west portion 1806 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to John McComb (1793 portion) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, occupied and in religious use; restored in 1964-65, with dormers removed in 1964. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70262, -74.01369 (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 72000891.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2687425
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.