National Historic Landmark

Hillforest (Forest Hill)

Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana
Listed
August 4, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000005

About this property

The Hillforest Mansion, also known as the Thomas Gaff House, is located at 213 Fifth Street, in Aurora, Indiana. Built in 1855 on a bluff above the Ohio River, it is one of the finest surviving examples of an Italian Renaissance estate house, and a rare well-preserved example of the work of architect Isaiah Rogers. The mansion, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992, is owned and operated by Hillforest Historical Foundation. It is located in the Downtown Aurora Historic District.

Location

213 5th St.
Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana
39.05394, -84.90162

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Hillforest (Forest Hill)

This page lists Hillforest (Forest Hill). A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Sutton, Dr. George, Medical Office Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Stevens, Levi, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hurlbert, Lewis, Sr., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Aurora Methodist Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Downtown Aurora Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Morgan's Raid: Harrison Ohio
1863Civil War
15 mi
Morgan's Raid — Harrison Indiana Skirmish
1863Civil War
15 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hillforest (Forest Hill) listed on the National Register?

Hillforest (Forest Hill) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Hillforest (Forest Hill)?

Hillforest (Forest Hill) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Hillforest (Forest Hill) a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Hillforest (Forest Hill) has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Hillforest (Forest Hill)?

The period of significance for Hillforest (Forest Hill) is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hillforest (Forest Hill)?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hillforest (Forest Hill) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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