National Historic Landmark

Voorlezer's House

New York, Richmond County, New York
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000565

About this property

The Voorlezer's House is a historic clapboard frame house in Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island, New York. It was previously believed to be the oldest known schoolhouse in what is now the United States. The present structure became a private residence for more than a century and is now owned and operated by the Staten Island Historical Society. Despite being traditionally dated to before 1696 and sitting on land patented in 1680, it is more likely to have been constructed in the mid-eighteenth century, probably in the 1760s by Jacob Rezeau, whose family came into possession of the property in 1705. Though well-maintained for many years, by 1936 the building had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition. It was acquired by the museum in 1939 and then restored to how it was believed to have appeared around the turn of the eighteenth century. It was first opened to the public on April 14, 1942, and then again, after its second restoration, on June 27, 1985. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and was added to National Register of Historic Places when that registry was created in 1966.

Location

New York, Richmond County, New York
40.57143, -74.14746

Categories

EDUCATION
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Church of St. Andrew (Episcopal)
Colonial
0.1 mi
LaTourette House
Early Republic
0.3 mi
Staten Island Light
Civil War
0.5 mi
New Dorp Light
Early Republic
0.5 mi
Moore-McMillen House
Early Republic
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Staten Island Raid (Sullivan)
1777Revolutionary War
0.8 mi
Battle of Elizabethtown
1780Revolutionary War
7.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Voorlezer's House listed on the National Register?

Voorlezer's House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Voorlezer's House?

Voorlezer's House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Voorlezer's House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Voorlezer's House 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 Voorlezer's House?

The period of significance for Voorlezer's House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Voorlezer's House?

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