Edgecliff
Also known as: Emery Hall; See Also:Edgecliff Area Historic Group
Why it's listed
Edgecliff, also known as Emery Hall, is a large Victorian residence at 2220 Victory Parkway in Cincinnati. Built in 1881 to designs by architect Samuel Hannaford, it sits on a hill overlooking the Ohio River, together with a carriage house and a cluster of buildings of similar style and scale. The three-story building has rockfaced Bedford stone walls, an irregular plan, projecting pavilions, wall gables and a steep truncated hip roof of slate. A tall cylindrical corner turret with a conical cap dominates the front facade, which faces the river, while the driveway entrance is on the rear. It was built for Thomas and Mary Emery. Thomas was the son of Thomas Emery, Sr., who founded the family's Cincinnati estate in 1840. The Emerys, especially Mary, contributed to Mariemont, Children's Hospital, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Ohio Mechanics Institute. The house was incorporated into Edgecliff College in 1935 and now houses an art department open to the public.
Significance in brief: It was built as the home of Thomas and Mary Emery, members of a family that became one of the nation's largest real estate investors and developers. The Emerys, especially Mary, were vital to the development of Mariemont, Children's Hospital, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Ohio Mechanics Institute. It is also included as one of the works of architect Samuel Hannaford.
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 80003050, listed March 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2220 Victory Pkwy., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003050 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Hannaford (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by a college art department and open to the public; interior and exterior condition listed as excellent. |
| Within district | Edgecliff Area Historic Group |
| Coordinates | 39.12169, -84.48396 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80003050.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5337742
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.