Probasco, Henry, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Mill Creek Valley from the edge of a hill in Cincinnati's Clifton neighborhood, this Romanesque house of limestone and sandstone was built between about 1859 and 1866 for Henry Probasco. It is L-shaped and organized around a round four-story tower holding the main staircase and topped by an octagonal cupola. Inside are a great hall with cedar, white pine and oak finishes, a drawing room with a curved bay, a library with red cedar paneling and a frescoed ceiling, and bedrooms with carved marble fireplaces. The architect is thought to have been William Tinsley, and the wood carving is credited to Benn Pitman. Probasco, a hardware partner who later donated the Tyler Davidson Fountain, was one of the seven Barons of Clifton. The house set an architectural pattern followed in other notable Cincinnati homes through the rest of the century, and it remains a visible landmark from the surrounding hills.
Significance in brief: Built for one of the seven Barons of Clifton, the house established an architectural vocabulary in Cincinnati that was used in other distinguished homes for the rest of the nineteenth century. It is also tied to Henry Probasco, who later donated the Tyler Davidson Fountain. It is a prominent Clifton landmark visible from the surrounding hills.
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 72001022, listed November 9, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 430 W. Cliff Lane, Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | November 9, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001022 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1859-1866 |
| Architect / builder | Architect thought to be William Tinsley; frescoes believed by Francis Pedretti; wood carving by Benn Pitman |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site; occupied as a private residence, with preservation work in progress. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.15817, -84.52385 (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 72001022.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5727250
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.