The 20 Oldest Homes in the United States
9. Ryves Holt House in Lewes, DE
Believed to have been built around 1665 by the first Dutch settlers in the United States, the Ryves Holt House operated as an inn before being purchased by Ryves Holt, Sussex County’s first Chief Justice, in 1723. It was constructed using wood and chamfered joists with lambs-tongue stops. A corner fireplace existed before being removed for unknown reasons around 1800. The Colonial-style home has had multiple additions over the years, including front windows that are unevenly grouped, giving it an off-kilter appearance. The home was dated in the 1980s, using dendrochronology, and is the only wooden house built prior to 1700 still standing in DE. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and is open to the public.
