Howell House
Why it's listed
Howell House is a two and one-half story stone and brick building in Germantown, Philadelphia, with a full cellar. The original section measured 24 by 32 feet, and a mid-nineteenth century rear wing was later added. Its first floor was originally a single room, and the second floor is divided into three rooms, with a third floor containing one room and a storage space over the hall. The house is cited as a good example of Germantown federal architecture. Its floor plan is considered unusual. Paneled second-floor doors, the arch of the front door, and the handrail and four steps between the first and second floors are regarded as original. In 1795 the house was owned by William Forbes and was later sold to the Hacker family. Its location on the Germantown Road, a National Historical Landmark, adds to its importance for understanding the city's growth and development.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house as a good example of Germantown federal architecture. Its location on the Germantown Road, a National Historical Landmark, is said to add importance to any study of Philadelphia's growth and development. The house also has an unusual floor plan and retains some original features such as paneled doors, an arched front door, and a handrail with four steps.
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 72001159, listed January 13, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5218 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | January 13, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001159 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Germantown federal architecture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original site; condition described as good for the metal roof and cornice |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Colonial Germantown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03128, -75.16757 (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 72001159.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5921741
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.