Miller, Peter, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830, this one-story Greek Revival farmhouse on Lake Road in Avon Lake, Ohio, was the home of Peter Miller. He arrived in 1819 with his father, Adam Miller, and the family established a farm on the lakeshore. Miller erected the first frame structure in what is now Avon Lake, at a time when the shoreline was sparsely settled compared with inland ridges. The rectangular, gabled main block has plain Greek Revival trim, a sandstone foundation and later additions, including a brick rear wing with a slate roof. The interior is largely original, with a front parlor and a large fireplace framed by pilasters and an entablature. The former farm is now Miller Park, bordered by a power plant and residences, with Lake Erie about three hundred feet north. The house is one of a few surviving pre-Civil War lakefront homes in Lorain County. It is owned by the city and serves as a museum and community center open for occasional tours.
Significance in brief: It is one of only a handful of surviving pre-Civil War lakefront houses in Lorain County. It was the home of the first permanent settler on the Lake Shore in Avon township, and Peter Miller built the first frame structure in what is now Avon Lake. Its largely unaltered condition and public ownership make it the historical focal point of the city.
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 78002106, listed August 25, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33740 Lake Rd., Avon Lake |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 25, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002106 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Avon Lake and used as a museum and community center by the Avon Lake Historical Society; interior showed deterioration but was under restoration at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.50216, -82.06022 (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 78002106.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138478687
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.