Wintergreen Country Store facts for kids
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Wintergreen Country Store
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Front of the store
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1368 State Route 151 at Wintergreen, Virginia |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Grover C. Harris |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001233 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 9, 2005 |
The Wintergreen Country Store is a special old building in Nelson County, Virginia. It started as a place where people could buy almost anything they needed. Today, it helps us learn about nature and history.
This building is important because it shows how stores used to look. It has been used for many different things over the years. In 2005, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a protected landmark.
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History of the Wintergreen Store
The Wintergreen Country Store has a long and interesting past. It was built in several steps, growing bigger over time. Each part of the building tells a story about its different uses.
How the Store Grew
The store was built in four main stages. Each stage added new parts to the building.
First Stage: The Original Store
The very first part of the store was built between 1908 and 1909. It was a small, one-room building. It also had a porch where people could relax. This was the main shopping area for the community.
Second Stage: Adding Living Space
In the late 1920s, more rooms were added. These new rooms were for people to live in. This made the building a home as well as a store.
Third Stage: A Bigger Porch
Later, a two-story section was added. This part included a large, two-story porch. This made the building look even grander.
Fourth Stage: A Welcoming Center
The last big change happened in 1975. The Wintergreen Resort added a new section. This part became a welcoming center for visitors. It was the first stop for people coming to the resort.
What the Store Became
After being a welcoming center, the building changed hands many times. It continued to serve the community in different ways.
A Place of Worship
For a while, the building was used by a church group. It became a meeting place for an Episcopal Church mission. People gathered there for services and community events.
An Art Gallery
Next, the building became the Spruce Creek Gallery. For 12 years, it showed amazing art. Local artists displayed their crafts there. It was a popular spot for art lovers.
A Nature Center Today
Now, the Wintergreen Country Store is the Rockfish Valley Foundation Natural History Center. It works with the Virginia Museum of Natural History. It helps people learn about local plants, animals, and history. It's a great place to explore nature.
