Wilson-Gibson House
Also known as: The Gibson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1860 at 425 Oak Street in Cincinnati, this brick house is two and a half stories high with a coursed stone foundation and a gabled roof of easy pitch. The original block was probably the front section, with interior chimneys; a rear wing creating an L-shaped plan and other additions came later in the nineteenth century. The three-bay facade has paired entrances on both floors, each with a semi-elliptical fanlight and delicate mullioned sidelights. The ground-floor entrance opens onto a veranda with Doric columns and square piers, and the upper doors open onto a railed deck. The house is notable for combining Federal and Classical Revival features into a transitional style. Land records show James Wilson bought the property at a sheriff's auction in 1859, and his brother Frank lived there until 1873. Louis Hauck bought it in 1911. No architect or builder is documented, and a later note records transfer to the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a sophisticated example of a transitional style that blends Federal and Classical Revival elements. It notes similarities to the Martin Baum House (Taft Museum), such as double-door entrances with semi-elliptical fanlights, double interior chimneys and six-over-six windows, though it calls any influence conjecture.
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 76001444, listed March 17, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 425 Oak St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 17, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001444 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1860 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Transitional: Federal and Classical Revival (Federal and Greek Revival in the data sheet) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence; a later note records that ownership passed from the private owner to the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.13014, -84.49164 (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 76001444.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8022948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.