George Hunt Pendleton House, Cincinnati
Perched high on Liberty Hill in Cincinnati鈥檚 Prospect Hill Historic District, the George H. Pendleton House stands as a striking example of French Second Empire architecture and a quiet witness to a major shift in American political history. Built in 1870, this 2陆-story brick mansion鈥攚ith its iconic mansard roof, bracketed eaves, and dormered third floor鈥攕erved as the home of Senator George Hunt Pendleton from 1879 to 1889.
Pendleton, a Democratic politician and lawyer, is best known for the Pendleton Act of 1883, the landmark legislation that began the transformation of federal hiring from patronage to merit-based civil service. Ironically, though he wasn鈥檛 initially a vocal reformer, Pendleton hosted a pivotal 1882 meeting in this very house, where a Senate subcommittee completed a draft of the bill that would bear his name. That reform effort won national praise鈥攂ut cost him his Senate seat in 1884, alienating party insiders who had thrived under the old patronage system.
Over the years, the house transitioned through various owners and uses, at one point becoming a nine-unit tenement. While the interior has been heavily modified and lost its historical integrity, the exterior was restored in the late 20th century, preserving its prominent silhouette visible from the downtown Cincinnati basin below. Today, the structure hosts commercial offices on the ground floor and residences above, blending history with modern utility.
In 1964, the George H. Pendleton House was designated a National Historic Landmark, a nod to both its architectural presence and its role in reshaping the U.S. government.
Pendleton, a Democratic politician and lawyer, is best known for the Pendleton Act of 1883, the landmark legislation that began the transformation of federal hiring from patronage to merit-based civil service. Ironically, though he wasn鈥檛 initially a vocal reformer, Pendleton hosted a pivotal 1882 meeting in this very house, where a Senate subcommittee completed a draft of the bill that would bear his name. That reform effort won national praise鈥攂ut cost him his Senate seat in 1884, alienating party insiders who had thrived under the old patronage system.
Over the years, the house transitioned through various owners and uses, at one point becoming a nine-unit tenement. While the interior has been heavily modified and lost its historical integrity, the exterior was restored in the late 20th century, preserving its prominent silhouette visible from the downtown Cincinnati basin below. Today, the structure hosts commercial offices on the ground floor and residences above, blending history with modern utility.
In 1964, the George H. Pendleton House was designated a National Historic Landmark, a nod to both its architectural presence and its role in reshaping the U.S. government.
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George Hunt Pendleton House on Map
Sight Name: George Hunt Pendleton House
Sight Location: Cincinnati, USA (See walking tours in Cincinnati)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Cincinnati, USA (See walking tours in Cincinnati)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Cincinnati, Ohio
Create Your Own Walk in Cincinnati
Creating your own self-guided walk in Cincinnati is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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The historic Over-The-Rhine (OTR) neighborhood is one of the largest districts in the U.S. recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Its name comes from the predominantly German immigrants who developed the area in the mid-19th century and had to commute across bridges over the Miami and Erie Canal (nicknamed "the Rhine" in reference to the river in Germany) which separated... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Cincinnati's Historical Buildings
A place where remarkable landmarks, river views and rolling hills are all part of the cityscape, Cincinnati, OH is a home to one of the most impressive collections of historic architecture in the United States. German homes, French cathedrals and splendid 19th-century mansions are found here in abundance. The list of architectural styles present in the city is truly impressive and includes Greek-,... view more
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Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
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Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
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Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Cincinnati Introduction Walking Tour
Welcome to Cincinnati, Ohio鈥攁 place that blends historical richness with the vibrancy of cultural attractions!
The land that became Cincinnati had previously been occupied by Fort Washington. Before that, it was home to the Shawnee and other Native American tribes like the Miami, Ojibwe, and Lenape.
Founded in 1788, the city earned its name from the Society of the Cincinnati, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
The land that became Cincinnati had previously been occupied by Fort Washington. Before that, it was home to the Shawnee and other Native American tribes like the Miami, Ojibwe, and Lenape.
Founded in 1788, the city earned its name from the Society of the Cincinnati, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles