House at 378 Glen Avenue
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at 378 Glen Avenue in Sea Cliff, this two-story clapboard house is a surviving example of the village's Victorian summer cottages. Its most noticeable features are a sweeping gable roof and a two-story porch that wraps around the whole building. The porch has a lattice base, scrollsawn corner braces and a balustrade, while the gable ends and dormers are covered in decorative shingles. A raised brick basement holds a ground-story entrance on the west side. Inside, much of the original woodwork, moldings and flooring remains. Alterations are limited to replacement of some porch gingerbread in the 1960s and enclosure of a small part of the rear porch in the 1970s. The house went up as Sea Cliff shifted from a Methodist camp meeting ground to a resort within commuting distance of New York City, and as tent plots were sold for summer houses. It is valued as an illustration of that 1880s resort development. A modern garage at the rear does not contribute to the property's historic character.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a distinguished example of Sea Cliff's late Victorian resort architecture. It was built when the village was changing from a Methodist camp meeting ground into a seaside resort. It keeps a high level of integrity and shows the tastes of the late nineteenth century summer population.
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 88000033, listed February 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 378 Glen Ave., Sea Cliff |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | February 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000033 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Eclectic late nineteenth century Victorian era architecture |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence; condition given as good, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.84560, -73.65072 (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 88000033.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15225984
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.