Lightner, Isaac, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1833, this brick house in Glenshaw, Allegheny County, is a one and one-half story, five-bay dwelling with a center hall entrance, two dormer windows and two gable end chimneys. Its plan and proportions are late Georgian, but the detailing follows the later Greek Revival manner. The most notable feature is a large porch with Doric columns and a broad pediment, whose tabernacle-framed eyebrow window is an unusual treatment. Elaborate sidelights and a transom with diamond mullion patterns frame the front door, and the window and door lintels carry recessed circular panels at their corners. Fluted pilasters on the pediment window are repeated at the dormer windows. Behind the house, a brick summer kitchen built at the same time has two finished rooms, a large open fireplace used for cooking, and a brick oven. The interior was modernized in 1929, though its character remains cohesive. The house is regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of its period in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the house as an excellent example of Greek Revival influence on vernacular architecture, transforming a colonial-style house into a grand temple-form house. It is described as one of the finest surviving examples from the 1830s, remarkably intact, with significant architectural importance to Allegheny County.
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 78002333, listed April 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2407 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler township, Glenshaw |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | April 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002333 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1833 |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian house expressed in the later Greek Revival manner |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The interior was modernized in 1929. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.53763, -79.97249 (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 78002333.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6076699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.