Owl's Nest
Also known as: Edward Eggleston Estate
Why it's listed
Owl's Nest is a lakeside estate on Dunham Bay at Joshua's Rock, Lake George, tied to the novelist and historian Edward Eggleston. The core of the property holds three main buildings: "The Homestead," built by Eggleston's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Elwin Seelye around 1879; "Mellowstone," a stone library Eggleston built in 1883; and his one-and-a-half story stone residence, with a frame wing added about 1890. A small wooden library he gave to the county and a private cemetery, where he is buried, are also on the grounds. Eggleston began summering at Lake George in 1875 and made it his permanent address from the early 1880s. He wrote most of his later work here, including two volumes of a history of life in the United States. He was among the first American realistic novelists to treat frontier life seriously, and he died at the estate in 1902. His descendants still use it as a summer home.
Significance in brief: Edward Eggleston was among the earliest American realistic novelists and possibly the first to treat frontier life seriously in fiction. Lake George was his only permanent address from the early 1880s, and he wrote most of his later work there, including two volumes of social history. He built the library and residence on the estate and is buried there.
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 71000565, listed November 11, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 9L, Lake George |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | November 11, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881 to 1902 |
| Architect / builder | Edward Eggleston (built "Mellowstone" and his residence); Elizabeth and Elwin Seelye built "The Homestead" |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 11, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered, on its original site. Used as a private summer residence by descendants of Eggleston. A small library on the grounds is still used by the county. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 43.44363, -73.65448 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 71000565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2042692
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.