Lorillard Snuff Mill
Also known as: Old Snuff Mill
Why it's listed
Built about 1840 on the east bank of the Bronx River, this fieldstone mill is now part of the New York Botanical Garden. It replaced earlier Lorillard snuff mills on or near the site, where river-driven grindstones ground tobacco into snuff. The P. Lorillard Company, founded in New York in 1760, moved its main factory to the Bronx River in 1792. Production at the mill apparently ended around 1870, when the company opened a large plant in Jersey City. The building later served as a police station and a carpentry shop, and was given to the Botanical Garden in 1915. It was restored in the 1950s as a restaurant and meeting place, with the river side altered but the other facades retained. The mill is considered the oldest surviving tobacco factory in the country, and it reflects the long evolution of American tobacco manufacturing from snuff to plug, cigars and cigarettes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest extant tobacco factory in the United States. It was built by the P. Lorillard Company, described as the nation's oldest tobacco manufacturer. The mill symbolizes the role of tobacco in American social and economic life, and the company's changing products reflected the evolution of American tobacco use.
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 77000935, listed December 22, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off U.S. 1, New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | December 22, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000935 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1840-70; 1792-1870) |
| Architect / builder | P. Lorillard Company |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 22, 1977 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the 1950s as a public restaurant and Garden meeting place, with two apartments for Garden staff on the second floor; the exterior is little altered and the building is structurally sound. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | New York Botanical Gardens |
| Coordinates | 40.85990, -73.87653 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 77000935.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6681207
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.