Bowne, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1661 at what is now 37-01 Bowne Street in Flushing, this wood-frame farmhouse is the oldest surviving dwelling in Queens County. John Bowne, an English settler, raised the first section as a small farm dwelling. The main part followed between 1680 and 1696, and the north end of the west wing was extended in 1830, when the roof was raised. Few notable changes came afterward, so the house keeps its clapboard siding, central chimney, boxed beams, wide floorboards and a large kitchen fireplace. The house also marks a turning point in religious freedom. Bowne, a Quaker, opened his home to meetings in 1662 despite New Netherland's ban on unrecognized sects. He was arrested and banished, then pressed his case with the Dutch West India Company in Holland, which changed its policy to allow freedom of belief and practice. His descendants held the house for nine generations until 1946, when it passed to the Bowne House Historical Society, which operates it as a museum.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest surviving dwelling in Queens County and retains a high degree of architectural integrity as an example of seventeenth-century construction. It is also tied to the fight for religious freedom, because John Bowne, a Quaker, held meetings there in defiance of New Netherland's ban and successfully argued his case before the Dutch West India Company.
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 77000974, listed September 13, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 37-01 Bowne St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | September 13, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000974 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1661-1680, 1830 |
| Architect / builder | John Bowne (built the original section in 1661) |
| Architectural style | English Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained as a house museum, furnished with antiques, many original to the house; described as well cared for and never restored. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76301, -73.82525 (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 77000974.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12053409
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.