Whitney, Newel K., Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1826 and 1827 in Kirtland, Ohio, this two-story timber building served as the general store of Newel K. Whitney, whose business was several times larger than any other in town. Its unusual storefront of seven pairs of French doors with tin panels survives and is considered unparalleled in northeastern Ohio. The design blends Federal cornices with Greek Revival door moldings. Whitney and his wife were among the first Ohio converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1832 and 1833 Joseph Smith and his family lived upstairs, and the store acted as an unofficial church headquarters. Smith's history says he received revelations here, including the Word of Wisdom, and taught early leaders in the School of the Prophets. The building later remained a general store and became a tavern. The Church acquired it in 1979 and began a restoration in 1984, based on historical, archaeological and architectural research.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criteria A and B for its link to the development of the Mormon religion in Ohio and to church founder Joseph Smith, who lived upstairs in 1832-1833 and received revelations there. It is also a good example of a Western Reserve general store and of transitional Federal and Greek Revival architecture. After the Kirtland Temple, it is called the most significant Mormon-period building in Ohio.
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 84003759, listed August 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8881 Chillicothe Rd., Kirtland |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | August 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003759 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1826-7) |
| Architectural style | Transitional, with Federal and Greek Revival elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restoration to its 1830s appearance was under way (work began March 1984), with plans to open it as a historic site and house museum. Condition is listed as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.62935, -81.36142 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84003759.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q138402991
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.