High Falls Historic District
Why it's listed
High Falls is a small village in Marbletown, Ulster County, at the base of the Shawangunk Mountains, where Rondout Creek drops over a rock formation. The historic district covers about 21 acres and includes stores, inns, churches, a canal-era lock and a range of houses for merchants, manufacturers and workers. Notable buildings include the 1797 stone DePuy Canal House, the 1867 Reformed Church, the 1882-85 St. John's Episcopal Memorial Chapel, now a canal museum, and ruins of Delaware and Hudson Canal Locks 17 and 18. The village grew after the canal opened in 1825-1828 and after natural cement was discovered nearby in 1825. Between 1825 and 1880 it became a manufacturing and transportation center. The canal closed in 1899, and the later Ashokan Reservoir work brought some revival. The district was listed for its architecture, its canal and industrial history, and its well-preserved mid-nineteenth century village plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is a highly intact collection of commercial, residential and civic architecture that grew up around the Delaware and Hudson Canal. Between 1825 and 1880 High Falls changed from an isolated farming settlement into a manufacturing and transportation center, tied to the canal and the local natural cement industry. It also preserves a well-kept example of mid-nineteenth century semi-urban land planning.
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 98001005, listed August 6, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly along NY 213 and Main St., Marbletown |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | August 6, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001005 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1790 - ca. 1940 |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Engineering, Community Planning and Development, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Some stores still serve their original commercial use, while others have been converted to residences. Route 213 was realigned in 1956 and utility facilities were built, but the core of the hamlet remains largely intact. |
| Acreage | 21 |
| Coordinates | 41.82732, -74.12804 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 98001005.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706360
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.