Rogues Harbor Inn
Also known as: Elm Grove Inn; Central Exchange Hotel
Why it's listed
Rogues Harbor Inn is a three-story, red-orange brick building at the crossroads of Routes 34 and 34B in South Lansing, in New York's Finger Lakes region. Built between 1830 and 1842 as the Central Exchange Hotel, it is reportedly the first brick building in the Town of Lansing. Its Greek Revival character shows in the pedimented gable ends with oval windows, limestone sills and lintels, wood dentil molding and six-over-six windows. Inside, a curved open-stringer staircase, original fireplace mantels, wood trim and a third-floor ballroom with a reportedly sprung floor survive. Brothers-in-law Lemuel Kelsey and Nelson Morgan are named as builders. The inn sat at the meeting of two stage routes on the Ithaca to Auburn line, and its size and brick construction reflected hopes that the hamlet would grow. It later served an interurban electric railway and had its own rail spur. Lost features include the cupola, chimneys and balcony, but the building otherwise keeps its original appearance and still operates as an inn and restaurant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its association with stagecoach and later rail transportation networks, including an interurban electric line stop and its own spur line. It is also significant under Criterion C as an example of commercial Greek Revival architecture in upstate New York. It was reportedly the first brick building in the Town of Lansing and a major inn on the Ithaca to Auburn stage line.
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 09000657, listed August 26, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2079 E. Shore Dr., Lansing |
|---|---|
| County | Tompkins County |
| Listed | August 26, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000657 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830-1917 |
| Architect / builder | Lemuel Kelsey, Nelson Morgan |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as an inn with lodging, dining and tavern services; the interior retains a high level of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.53976, -76.50513 (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 09000657.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7359569
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.