Mill Grove
Also known as: Audubon,John James,House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1762 by James Morgan in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Mill Grove is a stone colonial-design house with walls at least 18 inches thick and a wood shingle roof. It was the home of John James Audubon from 1804 to 1806, the years when he studied the birds of the surrounding land and made his early artistic efforts in America. Audubon made his own wire-supported method of mounting bird specimens here, and he carried out bird banding experiments, which are regarded as among the first attempts of their kind in North America. The house and grounds also show the early history of the Audubon family's ownership, which began in 1789 with his father, Captain Jean Audubon. Today the property is a museum displaying original Elephant Folio prints, and its sanctuary records 180 bird species. It is regarded as the only authentic Audubon home remaining in America.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant chiefly for its association with John James Audubon, who lived there from 1804 to 1806 and studied the local birds. It describes his bird banding experiments at Mill Grove and his development of his method of wire-supported bird specimens, and it states that the historic events there are more important than the architecture.
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 72001138, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pawling Rd., Audubon |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001138 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1804-1806 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Art, Conservation, Entertainment/Recreation, Education, Science |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 5, 1989 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Serves as a museum and living memorial to John James Audubon, open to the public daily except Monday. |
| Acreage | 130 |
| Coordinates | 40.12663, -75.44235 (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 72001138.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6858325
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.