Selinsgrove Hall and Seibert Hall
Why it's listed
Two brick buildings on the Susquehanna University campus in Selinsgrove mark the institution's early development. Selinsgrove Hall, built in 1858, is a three-and-one-half-story Italianate structure measuring 85.6 by 42.4 feet, with a cross gable roof, decorative wooden brackets and a central wooden cupola. It was the first building of the Missionary Institute, which opened classes that year in Trinity Lutheran Church while construction proceeded. Seibert Hall, erected in 1901, is a two-and-one-half-story Colonial Revival building with a two-story portico of nine fluted Corinthian columns and a slate roof. Funded by a gift from Samuel Seibert of Hagerstown, Maryland, it housed women students after the institution adopted coeducation. The nomination treats the pair as evidence of the college's changing character, from a plain, masculine early institute to a coeducational institution.
Significance in brief: Selinsgrove Hall was the first building of the Missionary Institute, later Susquehanna University, and is described as the most imposing building in Selinsgrove. Seibert Hall, funded by a donation from Samuel Seibert of Hagerstown, Maryland, is tied to the university's adoption of coeducation. The nomination argues that the two buildings together show the institution's development and its link to the growth of the community.
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 79002345, listed October 25, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pine St., Selinsgrove |
|---|---|
| County | Snyder County |
| Listed | October 25, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002345 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858-1901 |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Selinsgrove Hall); Colonial Revival (Seibert Hall) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states that Seibert Hall is in excellent condition and that Selinsgrove Hall retains its original appearance apart from ivy growth and rain spouts. |
| Acreage | 6.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.79891, -76.87164 (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 79002345.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7448492
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.