Hillforest (Forest Hill)
Historic house in Indiana. Added to the National Register in 1971, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
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.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 213 5th St., Aurora, IN |
| County | Dearborn County |
| Listed | Aug 5, 1971 |
| Listed for | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Forest Hill; Gaff, Thomas, House |
| Reference number | 71000005 |
| Architect | Isaiah Rogers |
| Type of place | house |
| Style | Renaissance Revival architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building, 2 structures |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 213 5th St., Aurora, IN |
| Website | hillforest.org ↗ |
| Coordinates | 39.0539° N, 84.9016° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Aurora | 17 listed places in Aurora → |
| Nearest national park unit | William Howard Taft National Historic Site · 22 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) 27 miles · Tailwater Shelter 2 (Brookville Lake) 27 miles · Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake) 27 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Dearborn County
Local history books for Dearborn County
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Indiana travel guides
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Hillforest (Forest Hill) listed on the National Register?
Aug 5, 1971. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Who designed Hillforest (Forest Hill)?
Isaiah Rogers, working in the Renaissance Revival architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Hillforest (Forest Hill)?
Probably. Places of this type are usually open to the public, but the record lists no hours; the official website will have them.
Source: Official website
Where is Hillforest (Forest Hill)?
213 5th St., Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana. The nearest national park unit is William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 22 miles away.
What does the Hillforest (Forest Hill) listing include?
The listing counts 3 contributing resources. Those are 1 building and 2 structures. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Where is the nomination form for Hillforest (Forest Hill)?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Hillforest (Forest Hill)?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake), 27 miles away. Tailwater Shelter 2 (Brookville Lake) is 27 miles away, and Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake) is 27 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Hillforest (Forest Hill)?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 71000005. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.