Lunkenheimer, Frederick, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1883 in Cincinnati's Walnut Hills neighborhood, this 2½-story brick house at 2133 Luray combines Italianate, Queen Anne and Classical Revival details. Its features include an asymmetrical front, a two-story corner bay, pedimented and shelf lintels, a dentil course, decorative wall dormers and a belvedere above a slate hip roof. A stone panel reading INGELHEIM recalls the German birthplace of its first owner, Frederick Lunkenheimer. Lunkenheimer founded the Cincinnati Brass Company in 1864, making steam valves for steamboats and later industrial valves that became known worldwide as the Lunkenheimer Valve Company. He lived here from 1883 until his death in 1889, a period of rapid growth for his firm, and the house stayed with his family until 1946. The porch has been partly enclosed and a large rear addition built, and most of the interior was lost to office partitions, but the exterior retains its character and unusual design. The property was listed for its architecture and for its association with Lunkenheimer.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an excellent example of eclectic Victorian architecture, mixing Italianate, Queen Anne and Classical Revival details into a unique design. It is also significant for its link to Frederick Lunkenheimer, founder of the Lunkenheimer Valve Company, who lived there from 1883 to 1889 as his business expanded.
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 85001690, listed August 8, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2133 Luray, Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | August 8, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001690 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1883) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic Victorian with Italianate, Queen Anne and Classical Revival details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, and vacant/unoccupied. The porch has been partly enclosed, a large two-story rear addition has been built, and little of the original interior survives. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.11881, -84.48834 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85001690.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5498316
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.