Savage, Augusta, House and Studio
Why it's listed
At the end of a long dirt drive off Old Route 32 in Saugerties, a small Greek Revival house and a modest sculpture studio sit on a narrow ledge between a wooded ridge and the Beaverkill Creek. The two-story timber-frame house has a side-hall main block and a one-and-one-half-story wing. Altered extensively in the 1970s, it now has mixed siding, replacement windows and an enclosed front porch, though original framing, partitions and some finishes survive. The studio, a light frame building on concrete blocks, was built for sculptor Augusta Savage, who owned the property from 1945 to 1962. Savage, born in Florida in 1892, became a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, a teacher of many young artists and the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center. The property is considered her most significant surviving place of work. It keeps its isolated rural setting, and fragments of unfinished sculpture have been found around the studio. The property is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is the most significant surviving place associated with the productive life of sculptor Augusta Savage, a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance and African-American art. She owned it from 1945 to 1962, and it retains a high degree of association with the last phase of her life. Significance is claimed in the areas of Art and Ethnic Heritage/Black.
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 01000248, listed March 21, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 189 Old Rte. 32, Saugerties |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | March 21, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000248 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1945-1950 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Black |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use. The house was altered in the 1970s, and original sash and doors are being restored. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.11255, -73.97632 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 01000248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4820959
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.