Shippen House
Why it's listed
Built of limestone around 1750 by Edward Shippen, a Philadelphia merchant and mayor who also helped found Princeton University, this two-and-a-half-story house in Shippensburg was constructed in three sections. The original section had three bays across the facade, a paneled door with a transom, and large fireplaces in its two main rooms. A two-bay addition followed in 1785, copying the original design, and a frame section was added to the rear in the early 19th century. Radiating stone arches with wooden moulding surmount the facade windows, and the central stair post is a single pine length running from the basement to the second floor. The house is regarded as a good example of colonial architecture, with woodwork unusual for the area at the time. For years its corner served as a survey marker for early local roads, including the Burd Road laid out for Braddock's army. Its significance lies in its early construction, its craftsmanship and its role in the frontier settlement of the region.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good example of colonial architecture with woodwork of a sophistication unusual for the area at that time. It also cites its link to Edward Shippen, who laid out the town, and its use as a local landmark and survey point for early roads, including the Burd Road surveyed for Braddock's army.
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 75001636, listed November 25, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 52 W. King St., Shippensburg |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | November 25, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001636 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Edward Shippen (builder of original section) |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in excellent state of repair and preserves most of its original exterior and interior fabric. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.04997, -77.52126 (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 75001636.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7498055
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.