Colonial Theatre
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built about 1836 as the Wilson Hotel on the southwest corner of Third and Market Streets in Harrisburg, the building was later renamed the Herr Hotel and then the Lochiel Hotel, when it became a political gathering place in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In 1912 its rear section was demolished and replaced with a theatre auditorium, and the building opened as the Colonial Theatre on November 4, 1912, under the Wilmer & Vincent Theatre Co. The auditorium retains much of its 1912 interior, with decorative plaster in a stage-set Italian Renaissance style, boxes flanking the walls, and plaster nymphs above a central arch. The seating once held about 1,000 people across the orchestra and balcony. The theatre is regarded as the last legitimate theatre of its kind in Harrisburg, and its interior is seen as an example of early twentieth-century efforts to apply European opera house design to vaudeville and motion picture venues. The theatre closed in December 1976.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its role in the entertainment and social history of Harrisburg and as a prominent political gathering place as the Lochiel Hotel in the nineteenth century. Its 1912 auditorium interior, with its stage-set Italian Renaissance decorative plaster, is presented as characteristic of early twentieth-century American theatres and as the last grand theatre of its kind in 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 82001532, listed November 9, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3rd and Market Sts., Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | November 9, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001532 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1836-1912 |
| Architect / builder | Cla Flin, of Detroit (1912 theatre work); Matthew Wilson (original construction about 1836) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (original design); Italian Renaissance-style interior decoration in the auditorium |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The structure has been vacant for five years, the exterior is in poor condition, and the interior is in poor condition from water and fire damage. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Harrisburg Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.26061, -76.88071 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82001532.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5148392
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.