National Register of Historic Places listings in Henrico County, Virginia facts for kids

Where Henrico County is located in Virginia

This article is about the cool historic places in Henrico County, Virginia that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of the National Register as a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our past and should be protected.

In Henrico County, Virginia, there are 33 places on this special list. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which is an even higher level of importance! These places help us learn about how people lived, worked, and shaped the area over many years.

Exploring Henrico County's Historic Places

Let's take a look at some of the amazing historic places you can find in Henrico County. Each one has a unique story to tell about the past.

Historic Homes and Buildings

Henrico County is home to many old houses and buildings that show us different styles of architecture and how people lived long ago.

Beth Elon: A Musician's Home

Beth Elon is a house built in 1890. It's designed in a simpler version of the Queen Anne style, which was popular back then. This house was once the home of Leslie and Laura Watson, who were famous musicians and music teachers in the Richmond area. Imagine all the music that was made inside those walls!

Clarke-Palmore House: A Farmhouse from the Past

The Clarke-Palmore House is a brick house that started as a farmhouse in 1819. It was made bigger in 1855. This house reminds us of a time when much of Henrico County was farmland. It shows us what a typical farm home looked like almost 200 years ago.

Druin-Horner House: A Glimpse into History

The Druin-Horner House is another historic home in Richmond, Virginia. It was added to the National Register in 2009. While its specific history isn't detailed here, its listing means it holds important historical value for the area.

Emmanuel Church at Brook Hill: A Beautiful Old Church

Emmanuel Church at Brook Hill is a stunning example of Gothic Revival church design from before the American Civil War. It was designed by a famous architect named Clifton A. Hall. This church shows off beautiful details and craftsmanship from that time period.

Henrico Theatre: An Art Deco Gem

The Henrico Theatre is a cool building from 1938. It's built in the Art Deco style, which was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Art Deco buildings often have geometric shapes, bold lines, and decorative elements. This theater would have been a popular spot for movies and shows when it was first built.

Mankin Mansion: A Historic Estate

The Mankin Mansion was added to the National Register in 1993. Like other listed properties, it's recognized for its historical importance and unique features, though specific details about its past are not provided here.

Rocky Mills: A Richmond Landmark

Rocky Mills is another historic property in Richmond that was listed in 2002. These old homes often have interesting stories about the families who lived there and the changes they saw over time.

Woodside: A Greek Revival Villa

Woodside is a beautiful Greek Revival style villa built in 1858. It was the countryside home of the Wickham family from Richmond. The Greek Revival style was inspired by ancient Greek temples, featuring columns and grand entrances.

Important Historical Sites

Henrico County has many sites that played a big role in history, especially during the American Civil War.

Brook Road Marker, Jefferson Davis Highway: A Road Marker

This marker is for the Jefferson Davis Highway. This highway was planned between 1913 and 1925 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was meant to be a southern version of the Lincoln Highway in the north. Before numbered highways like we have today, many roads were given names to promote travel.

Curles Neck Plantation: A Very Old Farm

Curles Neck Farm has been a working farm since 1635! That's almost 400 years of farming! It's one of the famous James River Plantations. Interestingly, a plane even crash-landed there in 1951. The main house and 156 acres of land are part of the historic listing.

Emek Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery: A Place of Remembrance

The Emek Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery is a very important place. It's a cemetery that serves as a memorial for victims of the Holocaust. It helps us remember a very sad time in history and honor those who suffered.

Flood Marker of 1771: Remembering a Natural Disaster

The Flood Marker of 1771 marks the location of a major flood that happened in that year. Markers like this help us remember important events, including natural disasters, and how they affected communities.

Fort Harrison National Cemetery: A Place of Rest for Soldiers

Fort Harrison National Cemetery is a burial ground for soldiers. National cemeteries are special places where military veterans and their families are laid to rest, honoring their service to the country.

Glendale National Cemetery: Honoring the Fallen

Similar to Fort Harrison, Glendale National Cemetery is another national cemetery in Henrico County. These cemeteries are peaceful places that remind us of the sacrifices made by soldiers throughout history.

James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District: An Old Waterway

The James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District includes parts of an old canal system. Canals were like man-made rivers that helped transport goods and people before trains and cars were common. This district shows how important waterways were for trade and travel long ago.

James River Steam Brewery Cellars: A Look at Old Industry

The James River Steam Brewery Cellars are the remains of an old brewery. This site gives us a peek into the industrial past of the area and how things like drinks were made many years ago.

Laurel Industrial School Historic District: A School's History

The Laurel Industrial School Historic District was once a school. Industrial schools often taught practical skills and trades. This district helps preserve the history of education and how young people were trained for work in the past.

Malvern Hill: A Civil War Battlefield

Malvern Hill was the site of a very bloody battle during the American Civil War on July 1, 1862. The original house, built in the 1600s, burned down in 1905. However, its ruins, including parts of the walls and chimney, are still considered a great example of 17th-century brickwork.

Meadow Farm: A Historic Farm Park

Meadow Farm is a historic farm that is now a park. It allows visitors to experience what farm life was like in the 19th century. It's a great place to learn about agriculture and the daily lives of people from that era.

Virginia Randolph Cottage: A Landmark for Education

The Virginia Randolph Cottage is a very special place. It was the home economics building of the Virginia Randolph Training School, a vocational school. Here, Virginia E. Randolph (1874–1958), a remarkable Black woman, taught and trained other teachers for 55 years! She was a pioneer in education. Today, the cottage is a museum that celebrates her life and work. Her grave is also on the grounds. This site is a National Historic Landmark because of her important contributions.

Redesdale: A Historic Residence

Redesdale is another historic home in Richmond, Virginia, that was added to the National Register in 2008. Its listing recognizes its architectural or historical significance to the region.

Reynolds Metals Company International Headquarters: Modern Architecture

The Reynolds Metals Company International Headquarters is a unique building complex completed in 1958. It's an example of the International Style of architecture, known for its clean lines and functional design. This building was a model for modern office buildings in the suburbs and features a lot of aluminum inside and out.

Richmond National Cemetery: A Soldier's Resting Place

Richmond National Cemetery is another important burial ground for soldiers, similar to Fort Harrison and Glendale. These cemeteries are maintained to honor the memory of those who served in the military.

Seven Pines National Cemetery: Honoring Military Service

Seven Pines National Cemetery is also a national cemetery in Henrico County. It serves as a final resting place for many military personnel, reminding us of their dedication and sacrifice.

Tree Hill: A Historic Property

Tree Hill was listed on the National Register in 1974. Like other historic properties, it holds significance due to its age, architecture, or connection to important events or people in the area's history.

Varina Plantation: An Old Plantation Site

Varina Plantation is a historic plantation site. Plantations were large farms, often worked by enslaved people, that played a big role in the economy of the South before the Civil War. Preserving sites like Varina helps us understand this complex part of history.

Walkerton: A Glimpse into the Past

Walkerton in Glen Allen was added to the National Register in 1984. It represents another piece of Henrico County's rich historical landscape, often reflecting the architectural styles and ways of life from earlier centuries.

Images for kids

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  The Brook Road Marker, part of the historic Jefferson Davis Highway.

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  The Clarke-Palmore House, an old farmhouse from 1819.

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  An airplane crash-landed at Curles Neck Farm in 1951.

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  The historic Druin-Horner House.

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  The Emek Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery.

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  Emmanuel Church at Brook Hill, a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture.

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  Fort Harrison National Cemetery.

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  Glendale National Cemetery, with its unique layout of headstones.

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  The Henrico Theatre, an Art Deco building from 1938.

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  The James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District.

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  The Laurel Industrial School Historic District.

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  The ruins of the Malvern Hill house, site of a Civil War battle.

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  The historic Mankin Mansion.

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  Meadow Farm, now a historic park.

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  The Virginia Randolph Cottage, a National Historic Landmark.

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  The Reynolds Metals Company International Headquarters, an example of International Style architecture.

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  Richmond National Cemetery.

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  The historic Rocky Mills Mansion.

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  Seven Pines National Cemetery.

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  The historic Walkerton property.