The Commonwealth Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Commonwealth Club
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 319-415 and 400-500 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Virginia |
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| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Commonwealth Club Historic District (ID83003301) |
| Added to NRHP | April 7, 1983 |
The Commonwealth Club is a special private club in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It's like a social gathering place for gentlemen. The building you see today was finished in 1891. It's a very important part of the Commonwealth Club Historic District and is located at 401 West Franklin Street. Many people think the Commonwealth Club is one of the most beautiful buildings in Richmond. It also showed how Richmond was growing and becoming a modern city in the "New South" era. The club still hosts the yearly Richmond German Christmas Dance, which is the oldest debutante ball in Virginia.
Building Design and Style
When the Commonwealth Club wanted a new building, they looked for the best design. They first tried to find architects in Richmond, but it didn't work out. So, they looked outside Richmond for ideas that fit a national style. The building site was high above the street. The club wanted a popular design that also showed Richmond's Southern roots. They chose a company from New York City called Carrère and Hastings.
Unique Features of the Club
The Commonwealth Club building is very special in Richmond. It has deep red bricks and brownstone trim. You can also see terra cotta decorations called cartouches. The building mixes a few different styles. It has parts of Colonial Revival and Richardsonian Romanesque styles.
Architectural Meanings
The Colonial Revival style was chosen to show a connection to the past and a hope for the future. The Richardsonian style showed that people in Richmond could afford the latest national trends in building design. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources officially calls its style Italian Renaissance Revival. This means it looks like buildings from the Italian Renaissance period.
