Cox, Jacob D., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1880 at 241-243 Gilman Avenue in Cincinnati, this two-story brick house is an example of the Italianate style used for suburban homes in the city between 1850 and 1880. It has an irregular plan, a hipped roof meeting a gabled rear section, and a pedimented bay with a stone-trimmed circular window. A bracketed cornice runs along the roofline, and the double-hung windows have molded lintels and sills. A large wooden porch wraps the front and east side, with X-shaped railing panels, carved rosettes, square columns and curved brackets. The house is better known for its former resident, Jacob D. Cox. Born in Montreal in 1828 and educated at Oberlin College, Cox served as an Ohio state senator and as a Union general in the Civil War. He was elected Republican Governor of Ohio in 1865 and later served as Secretary of the Interior under President Grant. He also led the University of Cincinnati. Cox lived in the house from 1883 to 1897.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the house characteristic of Cincinnati's suburban homes of the third quarter of the nineteenth century, with an ornate Italianate porch. It is most distinguished by its one-time resident Jacob D. Cox, who was a Civil War general, Ohio governor, and U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Cox lived there from 1883 until 1897.
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 75001416, listed April 14, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 241-243 Gilman Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | April 14, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001416 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c. 1880) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (High Victorian Italianate) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as deteriorated and altered, on its original site, and in private residential use. The upper balcony may be a later addition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.12197, -84.50535 (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 75001416.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6118505
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.