Taylor, George, House
Also known as: George Taylor Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1768 by Philadelphia carpenters on the east bank of the Lehigh River in what is now Catasauqua, this two-story Georgian house of stone rubble has walls 24 inches thick under a white slaked-lime stucco. Its interior retains 18th-century panelling, mantels, wide pine floors and iron hardware, while the dining room fireplace dates from the early 19th-century Greek Revival period. George Taylor, an ironmaster and Pennsylvania politician, lived here from 1768 until 1776, when he sold it. He signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 as one of Pennsylvania's delegates to the Continental Congress, and he had earlier supplied cannon and shot to the Revolutionary armies from the Durham Furnace. The house was acquired by the Lehigh County Historical Society in 1945 and restored in 1966-1968. It is regarded as a rare surviving example of a pre-Revolutionary house tied to a Declaration signer, and it is now open to visitors as a historic house exhibit.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of George Taylor, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence for Pennsylvania, ironmaster and politician, from 1768 to 1776. The nomination describes it as little altered, with largely original 18th-century interior panelling, mantles, floors and hardware.
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 71000709, listed July 17, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Front St., Catasauqua |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | July 17, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000709 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1768-1776 |
| Architect / builder | Philadelphia carpenters (unnamed) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 17, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Carefully restored in 1966-1968 and in excellent condition; open to visitors |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.64792, -75.46670 (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 71000709.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5545106
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.