Jacobsburg Historic District
Also known as: Boulton Gun Manufactory; Jacobsburg State Park
Why it's listed
Jacobsburg is a district of about 500 acres along Bushkill Creek in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, settled in 1740. Between the late 18th and early 19th centuries it held a gristmill, sawmill, tannery, iron furnace, forge, hotel and gun factory. The gun works were run by the Henry family, whose William Henry II built a factory around 1792 and erected the first wrought iron furnace in the Bethlehem area to supply it. Henry rifles were used in the War of 1812 and sold to fur trading companies. The Boulton House, built by John Joseph Henry in 1832, is a brick Federal-style house whose design shows strong Philadelphia influence. Most of the industrial sites are now ruins, and their foundations and mill races remain as archaeological evidence of early industrial life. The district was listed for its archaeological value in documenting that industry and for the architecture of the Boulton House.
Significance in brief: The district is significant as an archaeological site documenting early industry, with promising remains on the Jacobsburg and Benade tracts. The Henry family's gun-making and iron-making activities are a central part of its importance. The Boulton House is also argued to be a good example of Federal architecture as adapted locally.
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 77001181, listed October 17, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. NE of Nazareth off PA 115, Nazareth |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | October 17, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001181 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1740 - early 1900's |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Military, Engineering, Transportation, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Jacobsburg Tract almost entirely in ruins; two Benade stone houses remain standing, with restoration planned by the Jacobsburg Historical Society; Henry Homestead planned for use as a house for the park superintendent. |
| Acreage | 500 |
| Coordinates | 40.78264, -75.29244 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 77001181.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6119785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.