Elephant Hotel
Why it's listed
Built between 1820 and 1825 at the crossroads in Somers, New York, this three-story brick hotel served Hachaliah Bailey as a home, a lodging place and the headquarters of his menagerie business. It is linked to the early American circus through Bailey and his elephant Old Bet, whose statue stands in front. The five-bay Federal-style facade is symmetrical, with a marble basement and window sills, a hipped roof and a columned entrance porch. Walls are red brick laid in Flemish bond on the principal sides. Inside, a center hall with a groined vault, plaster cornices, marble mantels and original doors survive, along with early brick partitions meant to resist fire. The building later held a bank, was joined to an annex until 1907, and received additions in 1943 and 1959. It now serves as municipal offices. Its circus history and its well-preserved Federal-period architecture are the reasons it was designated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues national significance for the building's association with the formative history of the American circus, centered on Bailey and his elephant Old Bet. It is also presented as a rare, well-preserved example of a rural turnpike hotel in the Federal style, with notable interior decoration and original fabric.
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 05000462, listed April 5, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 335 Route 202, Somers |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | April 5, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000462 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Hachaliah Bailey (builder/owner; exact designer and builder not known) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 5, 2005 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as Somers town hall (City Hall function); exterior brick walls and principal interior spaces remain largely intact despite additions in 1943 and 1959. |
| Coordinates | 41.32874, -73.68582 (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 05000462.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5359324
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.