Stickley, Gustav, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1900 about two miles east of downtown Syracuse, this two and one-half story frame house has a Queen Anne exterior with asymmetrical bays, gables, beveled siding and shingles. Its importance lies inside. Furniture maker Gustav Stickley, who bought the house in 1900 and lived there until 1905, redesigned the interior in 1903 after a December 1902 fire destroyed the original. Using chestnut paneling, exposed ceiling beams, inglenooks, fireplaces and rooms that flow into one another, he created an open, unornamented plan. Interior views and plans appeared in The Craftsman in February 1903, and the interior is regarded as the first fully developed Arts and Crafts design he published and the first Craftsman house. Much of the first and second floor work survives, along with a third-floor apartment Stickley used in later life until his death in 1942. The building is now divided into three apartments.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its relatively unaltered Arts and Crafts interior, designed by Gustav Stickley in 1903 after a fire. It is described as the first fully developed Arts and Crafts interior published in his journal The Craftsman. It is regarded as the first Craftsman house, which helped popularize the Arts and Crafts house in the United States.
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 84002820, listed August 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 438 Columbus Ave., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | August 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002820 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Gustav Stickley |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (exterior); Arts and Crafts (1903 interior) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated fair; the structure is currently divided into three apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Westcott-University Neighborhood Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.04475, -76.12143 (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 84002820.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5621228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.