McGuffey, William H., House
Also known as: William Holmes McGuffey House
Why it's listed
This two-story brick house on East Spring Street in Oxford, Ohio, was designed and built by educator William Holmes McGuffey in 1832-33. He and his family lived there for only about three years, until he left Miami University in 1836. During that time he compiled the first four of his famous children's Readers in the house. The series, together with later McGuffey texts, is estimated to have sold more than 122,000,000 copies and shaped the thinking of generations of Americans. The house has changed since then: the main entrance moved to the north side, a second-floor porch was enclosed, and a two-story wing was added in 1855. Inside, a stairway was added, though a restored stenciled dining room wall covering and an original mantel remain. Miami University restored the house and now operates it as a museum honoring McGuffey, displaying editions of the Readers and the octagonal table where he worked.
Significance in brief: McGuffey lived here from 1833 to 1836 and compiled the First, Second, Third and Fourth Readers in the house. These and later McGuffey texts sold an estimated 122,000,000 copies and were a major cultural and educational influence on 19th-century America.
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 66000605, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 E. Spring St., Oxford |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000605 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1833-1836 |
| Architect / builder | William Holmes McGuffey (designed and built the house) |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 21, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored by Miami University and used as a museum honoring McGuffey; open on set days throughout the year except August. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.50706, -84.73597 (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 66000605.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8010507
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.