Gloninger Estate
Why it's listed
Built into a bank of limestone in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the Gloninger Estate house was completed in 1785 and is constructed entirely of limestone quarried on the property. Its two main floors each contain four rooms, and the basement has ceilings nearly twelve feet high. The house has four fireplaces and a steep pitched roof that was originally covered with hand-split shake shingles. The house is significant as a well-preserved example of Swiss-German building practice from the mid to late 1700s and as one of the oldest limestone homes in Lebanon County. It was also home to the Gloninger family for many years. John Gloninger, who built the house, served as a Revolutionary militia colonel and later as an associate judge, and his descendants included prominent doctors in the area and in Philadelphia. Dr. Andrew Gloninger founded the Lebanon Sanatorium, which later became Lebanon Valley General Hospital.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a typical example of Swiss-German architecture of the mid to late 1700s and is still among the oldest limestone homes in Lebanon County. It also links the house to the Gloninger family, including John Gloninger, a Revolutionary militia colonel and later associate judge, and his descendants who were prominent doctors.
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 80003546, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2511 W. Oak St., Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Lebanon County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003546 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Swiss-German |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vandalized after more than ten years of abandonment; purchased in spring 1978 and restored with modern conveniences added. |
| Acreage | 4.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.32363, -76.45297 (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.
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 80003546.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5571259
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.