Richmond has 200+ locations, buildings, and districts included on the National Register for Historic Places, many chosen for their significant architectural feats. That’s a lot of history + development to cover. For starters, we thought we’d round up 10 examples you might pass every day.
That way, the next time you cruise by one of these registered locations, you can throw out a little history to harmlessly annoy or subtly impress whoever you’re with.
Nationally registered buildings
This image dates back to 1979. | Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, VA-187, Wikimedia Commons
Belgian Building, 1500 N. Lombardy St. | Built in 1941 | Registered 1970
This former exhibition building was one of the first Modernist designs in the U.S. that the Belgians built for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. When World War II began, the Belgians couldn’t get it back to Europe, so they offered a competition to find the building’s new home. Virginia Union University won, and Richmonder + architect Charles T. Russell supervised the building’s move and reconstruction on campus.
Amtrak connections were made through Broad Street Station to cities like NYC. | Photo courtesy of Marty Bernard, Flickr
Broad Street Station, 2500 W. Broad St. | Built in 1919 | Registered in 1972
You probably know this Neoclassical building as the Science Museum of Virginia, but the Broad Street Station was a major train depot for decades. Passenger service was dropped in 1975, and the museum opened there the following year.
This vintage postcard remarks on the church as a point of beauty for many Richmond visitors. | Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wikimedia Commons
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 823 Cathedral Place | Built 1903-1906 | Registered in 1982
Architect Joseph Hubert McGuire chose an Italian Renaissance Revival style for this Roman Catholic Church. The cornerstone was sent from the Garden of Gethsemane. The portico uses Corinthian columns made of VA granite + limestone. Fireproof tiles have since been added for modern fire safety.
Who wouldn’t want a postcard of the bank after visiting Richmond back in the day? | Postcard courtesy of Boston Public Library, Flikr, photo courtesy of xnatedawgx, Taber Andrew Bain, Wikimedia Commons
Central National Bank, 219 E. Broad St. | Built in 1929 | Registered in 1979
This 23-story Art Deco skyscraper closed as a bank back in 2000. In honor of its late-1920s style, it’s now known as Deco at CNB Apartments.
This building falls into the Exotic Revival style due to its Corinthian columns. | Photo courtesy of Crazyale, Wikimedia Commons
Egyptian Building, 1200 E. Marshall St. | Built in 1845 | Registered in 1969
The NRHP considers this locale the oldest medical building in the South, built as a monument to medicine. Thomas Somerville Stewart designed it to pay homage to the original physicians of ancient Egypt. It was initially the home of Hampden-Sydney College’s Medical Department; it now hosts several VCU colleges.
This home went on the market in 2020, selling for $3.5 million.| Photos courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, VA,44-RICH,29-
Ellen Glasgow House, 1 W. Main St. | Built in 1841 | Registered in 1972
This antebellum Greek Revival, lined with Doric columns and a wrap-around porch, was home to the prolific Southern writer Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1942 for her novel, “In This Our Life,” and wrote upward of 20 books. She was buried in Hollywood Cemetery after her death in 1945.
The building is now the home to Winthrop Manor, an assisted living facility. | Photo courtesy of Free Software Foundation Inc., Wikimedia Commons
John B. Cary School, 2100 Idlewood Ave. | Built in 1912-1913 | Registered in 1992
The former school has kept most of its Gothic Revival facade, designed by VA architect Charles M. Robinson. He also designed seven buildings at UR, including Richmond Hall + Cannon Memorial Chapel.
See this iconic building in person and walk along the James River and Kanawha Canal while you’re there. | Photo by @takeone.aerial
New Pump-House, Pump House Drive | Built in 1881 | Registered in 2002
Our favorite Gothic Revival vampire house. Built by city engineer Col. Wilfred Emory Cutshaw, this building operated until 1924. We did plenty of research on this Richmond staple so you can dive into the details.
The outside of this historic building is ornate, but wait until you see the inside. | Photo courtesy of Morgan Riley + Eli Christman, Wikimedia Commons
Old City Hall, 1001 E. Broad St. | Built in 1886 | Registered in 1969
The former seat of Richmond’s government was built on the demolished remains of the 1818 courthouse that was structurally unsound. The Gothic Revival style was chosen by architect Eliljah E. Myers, who designed state capitol buildings in Colorado, Idaho, Texas + Michigan. Renovations on this historic building should be completed before the end of 2022.
Gallery 5 now hosts art exhibits, live music, and various community events at this preserved space. | Photo courtesy of Eli Pousson, Flickr
Steamer Company Number 5, 200 W. Marshall St. | Built in 1883 | Registered in 1995
Located in Jackson Ward, this polygonal Italianate building is one of the best-preserved firehouses in the region. It is now home to a wedding and event venue as well as the local nonprofit Gallery 5.
Search for yourself
- Head to the interactive database on the Virginia Department of Historic Resources website.
- Use the filters to search specific locations within the state — Richmond (Ind. City) for local listings.
- Start scrolling through 200 registered landmarks, neighborhood districts, cemeteries, and more.
- Pro tip: You can sort your search by name, ID, or listing date.
- Bonus: Use the search bar to see if your favorite local haunt makes the list.
Suggest a feature
We’ve barely even scratched the surface of Richmond’s architectural lore. Let us know which school, museum, office building, park, or neighborhood you’d like us to feature.
