Hamilton, Gilbert H., House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the wooded Glen Echo ravine in Columbus, this 2-1/2 story house at 290 Cliffside Drive was built in 1927 for real estate dealer Gilbert H. Hamilton and his wife Caroline. Its ell-shaped plan, massive stone-and-brick chimneys, hipped slate roof, front gabled entrance projection and narrow steel casement windows are typical of the Tudor Revival. What sets it apart is close adherence to English methods: the limestone walls have a shallow rock-faced finish rather than the deeper texture common in America, and the attached solarium has structural half-timbering with skintled herringbone brickwork. Retaining walls of matching stone give the house, garage and yard the look of a small walled courtyard. It is also described as a rare example of stone bearing-wall construction among single-family houses in Columbus, where a survey of about 1950 located few comparable stone residences. The house remains a single-family dwelling with its original character intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion C as a distinct example of early twentieth century Tudor Revival architecture, notable for faithful English-style stone and half-timbering construction. A later addition also describes it as a rare example of stone bearing-wall construction among single-family houses in Columbus.
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 89000175, listed December 16, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 290 Cliffside Dr., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 16, 1992 |
| Reference number | 89000175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the form states the house retains its architectural integrity and has been unchanged since photographs were taken in 1986. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.01879, -82.99389 (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 89000175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104876773
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.