Hill's Tavern
Also known as: Century Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1794 by Stephen and Thomas, the founders of Scenery Hill, this five-bay stone inn was first known as Hill's Tavern and is now called the Century Inn. It is a two-and-one-half story building with an L-shaped plan and two gable stone chimneys, with squared masonry laid in regular courses on its front facade. A Greek Revival verandah with simple Doric columns spans the full front, and Italianate brackets were added beneath the cornice. Inside, the original tavern kitchen has an unusually large cooking fireplace uncovered during restoration work in the 1940s. The building is regarded as the oldest surviving tavern on the National Pike, which was extended through Washington County in 1818. Its position on that road made the county a centre of commerce and travel between east and west, and the inn has operated as a tavern throughout its history. Today the first floor is a restaurant and the second floor provides overnight rooms.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the oldest extant tavern on the National Pike and reflects the transportation and commerce that grew along the road after it was extended through Washington County in 1818. Architecturally it is described as one of the finest stone buildings on the National Pike and one of the finest Western Pennsylvania post-Colonial vernacular stone structures in the region, with 19th-century Greek Revival and Italianate additions incorporated into the original design.
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 74001811, listed November 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 40, Scenery Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | November 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001811 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1794 |
| Architect / builder | Stephen and Thomas, founders of the village of Scenery Hill (builders) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Georgian with Greek Revival and Italianate additions |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use as a tavern since it was built; first floor operates as a restaurant and second floor has overnight guest bedrooms. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Scenery Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.08565, -80.06952 (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 74001811.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15224024
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.