It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on August 7, 1974 as Somers Town House and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005 as Elephant Hotel.

[1] It is also a contributing property in the NRHP-listed Somers Hamlet Historic District.

[2] Bailey's tours were the first of their type in the nation, and inspired numerous others to tour with exotic animals, and during the 1830s the old style circus and Bailey's attractions merged to form the modern circus.

[2] Bailey had purchased this land in 1805, and began construction of the hotel in 1821, as a memorial to the animals he displayed.

The Society operates the Museum of the Early American Circus, which is open on Thursday afternoons and for special holidays.