Ringland Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1827 on the south side of the National Road in Scenery Hill, this two-and-a-half story brick tavern was constructed in stages, with a two-bay east addition around 1830 and a shed-roof rear addition around 1835 that gave the building its saltbox profile. Its facade is laid in Flemish bond and it has two front doors, one leading to the barroom and the other to the stairs, each with a multi-paned transom. The interior retains six-panelled doors, reeded door surrounds and fireplaces with panelled pilasters. Early owners included James Beck, George Ringland and David Railly, and the building was operated as a tavern and stage stop. Its fabric and floor plan are regarded as typical of surviving National Road taverns, and its interior finishes are more complete than most of the others, which is why it is valued for both commerce and architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tavern is significant for its association with the early nineteenth-century commercial development of the National Road and for its vernacular Federal style architecture. It is described as one of the surviving masonry National Road taverns, retaining its two-door tavern plan and more original interior woodwork than most.
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 96000091, listed February 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 40, W. Bethlehem Township, Scenery Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | February 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000091 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1827-c. 1853 |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Scenery Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.08438, -80.06813 (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 96000091.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7334911
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.