Bost Building
Also known as: Columbia Hotel; see also; Homestead Historic District,90000696
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 as a three-story brick commercial building on East Eighth Avenue in Homestead, the Bost Building stood beside the Homestead Works steel mill. Its intended use at completion is not known, though most sources say it was built as a hotel, and it was still being finished when the lockout and strike began. During the 1892 confrontation between the Carnegie Steel Company and the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, it served as the union's headquarters, as the base of the Advisory Committee representing eight local lodges, and as a workplace for visiting newspaper correspondents. The third floor rooms overlooked the mill. The building is regarded as the primary surviving resource associated with the Battle of Homestead of July 6, 1892, and it is significant for its link to the labor struggle of that year. Its exterior plan is largely unaltered apart from the storefront, and its interior retains original doors, trim, and plan on the upper floors.
Significance in brief: The building served as headquarters for the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and its Advisory Committee, and as a base for visiting newspaper correspondents, during the 1892 Homestead lockout and strike. The nomination describes it as the primary surviving resource associated with the Battle of Homestead of July 6, 1892, and argues it is significant under the labor organizations and protests theme.
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 99000627, listed January 20, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 621--623 East Eighth Avenue, Homestead Borough |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | January 20, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000627 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | June 29, 1892 - November 21, 1892 |
| Architectural style | Other: Vernacular Commercial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 20, 1999 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The upper story windows are covered with plywood and the storefront has been replaced; a rear collapsed room was being restored as of July 1998. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Homestead Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.40923, -79.90440 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 99000627.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4947635
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.