Langstroth Cottage
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 at 303 Patterson Avenue in Oxford, Ohio, this brick cottage rises two and a half stories under a gable roof. The three-bay front has an entry to the left, plain six-over-six windows with stone lintels and sills, brick corner pilasters and a brick molding that outlines the gable, giving the walls a paneled look. A fan window sits in the gable. The porch and raised stoop were added later, along with a one-story frame addition at the rear. Inside, a curved stairway with a hand-carved cherry railing stands out, and the house originally had four fireplaces. The cottage is best known as the home of Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth (1810-1895), a minister and student of the honeybee who lived in Oxford from 1858 to 1887. His discovery that bees respect a certain space led to a revolutionary hive design with wooden frames. On about eight surrounding acres he researched bees and planted a honey garden and linden trees.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth, called the "Father of International Beekeeping," who lived in Oxford from 1858 to 1887. There he continued work on bee breeding and hive management based on his discovery of the space bees respect, which underlies his movable-frame hive design. The house is also described as a simple, elegant example of local architecture.
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 76001378, listed June 22, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 303 Patterson Ave., Oxford |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | June 22, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001378 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Science, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 21, 1981 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and altered, with a later porch and rear addition. Used as a private residence and owned by Miami University; the remaining land was described as threatened by university expansion. |
| Coordinates | 39.50658, -84.73017 (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.
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 76001378.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716588
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.