von Steuben, Baron, Memorial Site
Why it's listed
Baron von Steuben Memorial Site in Remsen, Oneida County, marks the burial place of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Prussian officer who trained Continental Army troops at Valley Forge. The site centers on a granite and limestone tomb, completed in 1872 and surrounded by an iron fence, Civil War era Parrott guns and stacked cannonballs. Nearby are a 1937 reconstructed log cabin, a boulder bearing a 1934 bronze plaque, eight 1930s state historic markers and rows of Norway spruces planted in 1932. The tomb sits within a five-acre wooded Sacred Grove that must remain forested under the terms of its deed. The property was listed for its role in German-American social history. German-Americans gathered here in the 1870s and again in the interwar years, when Steuben's unquestioned patriotism let them affirm loyalty after the suspicion of World War I. They worked with New York State to acquire the land, develop the park and build the cabin, and the site remained a place where being German was acceptable.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site is significant under Criterion A for its long association with the ethnic and social history of New York's German-American population. Over more than 150 years it served as a place where German-Americans honored Steuben and demonstrated their patriotism, especially during the 1870s and the 1920s to 1940s. This cultural role, rather than its commemorative or burial nature, is the basis for significance.
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 09000635, listed August 21, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Starr Hill Rd., Remsen |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Listed | August 21, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000635 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1804-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Henry Reck (sculptor- monument); Fred Bosworth (builder- cabin) |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions are listed as recreation and culture (monument, museum); the site includes a non-contributing parking lot and maintenance/restroom building. |
| Acreage | 53 |
| Coordinates | 43.34081, -75.22908 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 09000635.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7611688
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.