Hopwood-Miller Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1816 as a residence and later used as an inn, this five-bay stone building in Hopwood faces U.S. Route 40 along the National Road. Its center hall plan, coursed ashlar front, and large interior stone gable-end chimneys mark it as a tavern. The eight-panel front door, reeded reveal, and open stair with turned newel post reflect the Federal period. Hopwood, then called Monroe, was a stopping point for travelers before nightfall, and the nomination notes that many wagons and animals stayed overnight, with seven licensed hotels at one time. The building ceased operating as a public house by the mid-1850s. It is one of three surviving taverns from the town's National Road era, and it retains more interior woodwork than most comparable taverns in the area. Later alterations include a bar in the west parlor and rear additions.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant in the areas of commerce and architecture for its association with the early nineteenth-century commercial development of the National Road and as a surviving tavern whose form and floor plan remain identifiable. It is one of only three known surviving taverns from the approximately seven that operated in Hopwood during the road's early development. It also retains Federal-period interior woodwork.
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 95001355, listed November 27, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 40 (Main St.), South Union Township, Hopwood |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | November 27, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001355 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1816- C. 1850 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Served as a private residence after the mid-1850s; a bar was inserted in the west parlor and additions were made to the rear and west side of the kitchen. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.87700, -79.71276 (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.
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 95001355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15225109
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.