Rivermont Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Rivermont Historic District is a national historic district
located in Lynchburg, Virginia
. It is a 192.1 acre (0.777401806 km²) district consisting of the 300-3400 blocks of Rivermont Avenue as well as Riverside Park and a few properties alongside streets that face onto Rivermont Avenue. It is bounded by the James River
on the east and northeast, Blackwater Creek on the east and southeast, Daniel’s Hill
on the north and Virginia Episcopal Road and the southern end of Boonesboro Road.
It is significant as Lynchburg’s first planned streetcar community that included a mixture of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. It includes single-family residences, duplexes, apartment houses, garages, commercial buildings, churches, government buildings, academic buildings, and hospitals. There are a number of highly significant buildings dating from the late 19th and 20th centuries that represent nearly every major American architectural style of that period. The buildings are the work of some of Lynchburg's leading architects from this period, including Stanhope Johnson and Edward G. Frye, as well as Boston architect Ralph Adams Cram
, Washington D.C. architect William Poindexter, and New York architect Penrose Stout
. As Lynchburg's largest and probably most successful planned subdivision, Rivermont displays several important design features, such as a wide central avenue, parks, schools, and vistas that separate it from older parts of Lynchburg. The district includes the Jones Memorial Library
, Main Hall, Randolph-Macon Women's College
, and Miller-Claytor House
listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places
.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
located in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. It is a 192.1 acre (0.777401806 km²) district consisting of the 300-3400 blocks of Rivermont Avenue as well as Riverside Park and a few properties alongside streets that face onto Rivermont Avenue. It is bounded by the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
on the east and northeast, Blackwater Creek on the east and southeast, Daniel’s Hill
Daniel's Hill Historic District
The Daniel's Hill Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The district stretches along the prow of a narrow, elongated hill bordered by the James River on the east and Blackwater Creek on the west. This hill has very steeply sloped sides and is located...
on the north and Virginia Episcopal Road and the southern end of Boonesboro Road.
It is significant as Lynchburg’s first planned streetcar community that included a mixture of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. It includes single-family residences, duplexes, apartment houses, garages, commercial buildings, churches, government buildings, academic buildings, and hospitals. There are a number of highly significant buildings dating from the late 19th and 20th centuries that represent nearly every major American architectural style of that period. The buildings are the work of some of Lynchburg's leading architects from this period, including Stanhope Johnson and Edward G. Frye, as well as Boston architect Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram FAIA, , was a prolific and influential American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings, often in the Gothic style. Cram & Ferguson and Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson are partnerships in which he worked.-Early life:Cram was born on December 16, 1863 at Hampton Falls, New...
, Washington D.C. architect William Poindexter, and New York architect Penrose Stout
Penrose Stout
Penrose Stout was an American architect, best known for designing the Bronxville Women's Club, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007....
. As Lynchburg's largest and probably most successful planned subdivision, Rivermont displays several important design features, such as a wide central avenue, parks, schools, and vistas that separate it from older parts of Lynchburg. The district includes the Jones Memorial Library
Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Virginia)
The Jones Memorial Library is a historic building located on Rivermont Avenue at Lynchburg, Virginia. It was designed by the local architectural firm of Frye and Chesterman...
, Main Hall, Randolph-Macon Women's College
Randolph College
Randolph College is a private liberal arts and sciences college located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Founded in 1891 as Randolph-Macon Woman's College, it was renamed on July 1, 2007, when it became coeducational....
, and Miller-Claytor House
Miller-Claytor House
Miller-Claytor House is a historic home located at Riverside Park in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is a two-story, white framed structure, sheathed with beaded weatherboards. It is believed to be the fourth house erected in the new town in 1791, and is probably the oldest extant Lynchburg dwelling...
listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.