Bradford, David, House
Why it's listed
Built in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1788, the David Bradford House is a two and a half story coursed-stone dwelling with a rubble-stone kitchen wing at the rear. Its front has segmental-arched windows and a door with keystones, and the interior holds a handsome staircase with turned balusters, wainscoting, and elaborate wood and marble mantels. Bradford, a lawyer who arrived in Washington County in 1781 and became deputy attorney general there, grew wealthy from his practice and trading interests. The house was regarded as the best furnished in the area. Bradford was a leading voice in the protests against the federal excise tax on whiskey and served as the county's delegate at the Pittsburgh conferences of 1791 and 1792. In 1794 he took part in the militia uprising that marched on Pittsburgh, and the nomination is relevant to the Whiskey Rebellion, the armed resistance to the tax in western Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its interiors, which the nomination describes as particularly fine and the best furnished in the area at the time, and for its association with David Bradford's leading role in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. The nomination also cites the architectural character of the stonework, staircase, and mantels.
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 73001668, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 175 S. Main St., Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001668 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1788 |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 28, 1983 |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Washington Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.16814, -80.24528 (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 73001668.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5231651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.