Stegmaier Brewery
Why it's listed
Built on a rising 4.6 acre site near downtown Wilkes-Barre, the Stegmaier Brewery complex grew from a brewery established in 1857 into a group of six buildings, the oldest dating to 1890 and the main brew house to 1894. Architect A. C. Wagner designed the 1894 Brew House in the Romanesque style, and that character is carried through much of the complex alongside late 19th century industrial architecture. The brewery was once one of the largest independent breweries in the United States and employed about 300 workers at its peak in 1971. Its beers won eight gold medals at European expositions between 1910 and 1913. Other buildings were added by McCormick and French, Ellwood H. Frey and Charles H. Casper, including the 1913 administration offices and the 1902 bottling house. Operations ended in 1972, and the Stegmaier label was later acquired by another local brewer. The complex is listed for its industrial role in the city's economy and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex had a significant impact on industry in Wilkes-Barre, growing from a five-man operation in 1857 to around 300 employees by 1971, and that at one time it was one of the largest independent breweries in the United States. It also argues the complex is architecturally significant, with its character set by the 1894 Brew House, designed by A. C. Wagner, in the Romanesque style and retained across the complex.
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 79002292, listed May 30, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Coal, Welles, Market, Lincoln and Baltimore Sts., Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | May 30, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002292 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | A. C. Wagner (architect, Brew House and Boiler House); McCormick and French; Ellwood H. Frey; Charles H. Casper (architect, administration offices) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The brewery ceased operations in 1972 and the complex had been virtually abandoned; one building was being modified for an apparel manufacturer and another was selected for a federal energy demonstration project. |
| Acreage | 4.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.24192, -75.87708 (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 79002292.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q129255876
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.