Forest Hill Historic District (Richmond, Virginia) facts for kids
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Forest Hill Historic District
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Scene on Springhill Avenue
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Riverside Dr., Forest Hill Park, Reedy Cr., Bassett Ave., Southcliff Rd., Cedar Ln.,, Richmond, Virginia |
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| Area | 140 acres (57 ha) |
| Built | c. 1895 |
| Architect | Frederick Hyland, George Matsumoto, et al. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000851 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 3, 2012 |
The Forest Hill Historic District is a special area in Richmond, Virginia. It's like a preserved neighborhood where many old buildings tell stories. This district was added to an important list in 2012. This list is called the National Register of Historic Places. It helps protect places that are important to American history.
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What is the Forest Hill Historic District?
The Forest Hill Historic District is a large area south of downtown Richmond. It covers about 140 acres. This district includes 1,106 buildings and 5 other structures that are important to its history. Most of these buildings are homes.
A Neighborhood Built for Streetcars
This area started to grow in the early 1900s. It became one of Richmond's first "streetcar suburbs." A streetcar suburb is a neighborhood built along a streetcar line. People could live outside the busy city. Then they could easily ride the streetcar to work or shops downtown.
Homes with Unique Styles
The homes in Forest Hill show many popular building styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can see different designs as you walk around. These styles include:
- Bungalow: These are cozy, often one-story homes with wide porches.
- Colonial Revival: These homes look like older American colonial houses. They often have grand entrances and columns.
- Tudor Revival: These houses look like old English cottages. They often have steep roofs, tall chimneys, and decorative wood on the outside.
- Mission Revival: These homes are inspired by old Spanish missions. They often have smooth stucco walls and red tile roofs.
Many of the buildings in Forest Hill were built with high-quality materials. Brick is a very common material used for the homes here.
Important Buildings in the District
While most buildings are homes, some important non-residential buildings are also part of the district. These include:
- Forest Hill Presbyterian Church
- Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
- Forest Hill Church of Christ
These buildings add to the history and character of the neighborhood.
Why is Forest Hill a Historic District?
The Forest Hill Historic District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 3, 2012. This means it's recognized as a place important to the history of the United States. Being on this list helps protect the district. It also helps people learn about its past.
