House at 137 Prospect Avenue
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 as a single-family summer house, this two-story residence on Prospect Avenue in Sea Cliff reflects the village's early years as a seaside resort. It was constructed while the Methodist camp meeting ground was being established in 1871 and soon after the village railroad station opened in 1868, making it one of the first summer houses in the community. The house has a cross-gable and shallow-hipped roof, a central three-story tower with a multi-gabled roof and paired lancet windows, a two-story bay window, and a one-story porch with tapered Doric columns. Clapboards added around 1900 cover the original board and batten siding, and the second floor and gables are shingled. A rear wing was added in the 1960s. Inside, the original wide pine plank floors survive. The property is valued as a well-preserved example of Victorian summer-house architecture on a level, landscaped lot.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinguished local example of picturesque Victorian-era domestic architecture designed for middle-income seasonal use. It reflects Sea Cliff's growth as a summer resort, and was one of the first summer houses in the village, built soon after the 1868 railroad station and as the Methodist camp meeting ground was being established. It retains a high level of architectural integrity.
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 88000016, listed February 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 137 Prospect Ave., Sea Cliff |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | February 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000016 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Picturesque Victorian-era domestic architecture |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence; condition is described as good, with a rear wing added in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.84847, -73.65018 (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 88000016.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5913940
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.