Exchange Building (Petersburg, Virginia) facts for kids
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Exchange
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Exchange Building, 2017
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15–19 W. Bank St., Petersburg, Virginia |
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| Built | 1841 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Petersburg Old Town Historic District (ID80004314) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000322 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 11, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated CP | July 04, 1980 |
The Exchange Building, also known as the Merchant's Exchange Building or The Exchange, is a very old and important building in Petersburg, Virginia. It is located at 15-19 West Bank Street. This building was finished in 1841. It was designed in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks like ancient Greek temples. The Exchange Building is special because it is one of the best-preserved market buildings from the 1800s. It is now home to the Petersburg Visitor's Center. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971. This means it is a place of great historical importance to the United States.
About the Exchange Building
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The Exchange Building is found in Petersburg's Old Town. It sits at the corner of West Bank Street and Exchange Avenue. It has two floors and a roof that slopes down on all sides, called a hipped roof.
What the Building Looks Like
The front of the building has a large porch, called a portico. This porch has four tall columns. These columns are in the Doric order, which is a simple and strong style from ancient Greece. The sides of the building have five sections, called bays. These bays have flat, rectangular columns, known as pilasters.
Inside the building, in the very middle, there is a big round room with a dome. A dome is a rounded roof shaped like half a sphere. The dome is held up by strong supports called piers. It also has a decorative band called an entablature.
Its History and Use
A group of business people in Petersburg decided to build The Exchange in 1839. They wanted a place where local goods could be bought and sold. Things like tobacco and cotton were traded here. It was also used for public auctions. An architect named Berrien from New York City designed the building. It was completed in 1841.
The Exchange Building is a rare example of the Greek Revival style in Petersburg. It is also one of the best-preserved market buildings from its time in the entire country. For many years, it housed the Siege Museum. This museum showed items and told stories about the American Civil War Siege of Petersburg. The Siege Museum closed around 2016.
Today, the first floor of the Exchange Building is the Petersburg Visitor's Center. A new museum opened in September 2021. This museum tells the 400-year history of Petersburg. It has many exhibits that share the city's story.
See Also
