Category: Virginia Historical Homes

The Archer House was built in 1815 by Edward Cunningham, an Irish gentleman. It was designed by Robert Mills, and stood at the corner of Sixth and Franklin Streets, occupying a quarter of a block. A few years later Mr. Cunningham sold the property to Dr. George Watson, of Ionia, Louisa County, and it was […]

This house, now occupied by the Valentine Museum, was erected in 1812 for John Wickham, Esquire, who selected Robert Mills as the architect. The walls are very thick, and the doors are made of mahogany with silver-plated knobs, locks and hinges. The exterior of the house is stately, its interior commodious, and the spiral stairway […]

The house was built in 1818 by Dr. John Brockenbrough, after plans by Robert Mills, and was occupied for many years by his family. Dr. Brockenbrough sold the house to James Morson, who added the top story and after a few years’ occupancy sold it to Honorable James A. Seddon, member of Congress, and later […]

Gadsby’s Tavern, in Alexandria, is steeped in the romance and history of colonial Virginia. It was the northern terminus of the King’s Highway – that much-traveled route from Williamsburg, the ancient capital of the Colony. The smaller of the two buildings knows as City Tavern fronts on Royal Street, and was built in 1752. In […]

Monumental Church was built on the site of the Richmond Theatre, which was burned in 1811. In the old theatre leading actors of the day-including Elizabeth Arnold Poe, who died in Richmond while she was a star in the Placides stock company-entertained the town and its visitors until December 26, 1811. On that night the […]

As our first native-born architect, regularly trained for the profession, Robert Mills is worthy of the interest of his colleagues today, and of the long and loving years of study which H. M. Pierce Gallagher has given to his career in an article in the Architectural Record, of April, 1929. Harrison, Hoban, Thornton, Hadfield and […]

The John Marshall House, situated at Ninth and Marshall Streets, is among the few old homes in Richmond which retain their original lines and preserve something of their old-world atmosphere. John Marshall, born in 1755, son of Thomas and Mary Keith Marshall his wife, as youthful soldier, rising young lawyer, recognized statesman, and consummate jurist, […]

The first capitol in Richmond was temporary. Later, its present site on Shockoe Hill was selected, and the corner stone laid on August 18, 1785. Its real architect was Thomas Jefferson who, in his design, followed the classic line of the Maison Carree of Nismes. The building may be said to have introduced the classic […]

This attractive building occupies a lot cut off from the northeast corner of the Capitol Square. It is considered by competent authorities to be a striking example of domestic architecture of the early years of the nineteenth century. When Richmond became the capital of Virginia in 1779, no provision was made specifically by law for […]

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, situated on the corner of Grace and Ninth Streets, has from its beginning been identified with the life of the city and the commonwealth. The corner stone was laid on October 10, 1843, and on November 11, 1845, the church was consecrated by Bishop Meade. The building is of Corinthian style, […]