King Manor
Also known as: Rufus King House
Why it's listed
King Manor is a gambrel-roofed Colonial house in King Park, Jamaica, Queens, the last sizable open part of a 90-acre farmstead Rufus King bought in 1805. Its oldest sections date to the first half of the 18th century, and the main house was begun around 1750 as a parsonage by Reverend Thomas Colgan of Grace Church. King added a right-hand wing, creating an asymmetrical facade with a portico of fluted Doric columns and a Palladian window, and moved the original cottage to the rear as servants' quarters. King signed the Constitution, served nearly 18 years as a U.S. Senator, was twice Minister to Great Britain, and ran as the Federalist candidate for Vice President and President. He lived here for 22 years, longer than anywhere else, and this is the only surviving house tied to him. The main house remains relatively original, and the ell holds Parks Department offices.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving house associated with Rufus King, a signer of the Constitution, U.S. Senator, twice Minister to Great Britain, and Federalist candidate for Vice President and President. King lived there for 22 of his 72 years, longer than anywhere else. The house is described as a dignified Colonial mansion with Federal details and largely intact 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 74001295, listed December 2, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 150th St. and Jamaica Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | December 2, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial mansion with Federal details; Georgian features blended with local Colonial (English and Dutch) manner |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 2, 1974 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and relatively original. The main house is open to the public one afternoon a week, and the ell is used as Department of Parks offices. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.70305, -73.80377 (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 74001295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6411871
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.