{"nrhp_refnum":"69000247","name":"Hanover County Courthouse","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Jct. of Rte. 1006 and U.S. 301","address_restricted":false,"city":"Hanover Court House","county":"Hanover County","state":"VA","lat":37.76319370900006,"lon":-77.36721008699999,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1969-10-01","is_nhl":true,"nhl_designated_date":"1973-11-07","areas_of_significance":["Politics/Government","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story brick county courthouse at Hanover Court House, Hanover County, Virginia, on the east side of Route 301, built circa 1735 and still used as a courthouse.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is a well-preserved example of a colonial Virginia courthouse type, in continuous use since construction. It was also the scene of Patrick Henry's first well-known case, the Parson's Cause, in 1763, and of J. E. B. Stuart's 1862 commission as a Confederate Major General.","narrative":"Hanover County Courthouse is a one-story brick building on the east side of Route 301 at Hanover Court House, Virginia. Built around 1735, about fifteen years after the county was formed from part of New Kent County, it has been in continuous use since construction. Its most distinctive feature is a five-bay arcade set under the roof on the facade. The brick is laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers, with rubbed brick around the arches, windows and door. A steep hipped roof, three interior end chimneys and a modillioned cornice complete the exterior. The T-shaped plan places the courtroom in the center, with the judge's chamber and jury room in the arms, each with a corner fireplace. In 1763 Patrick Henry argued the Parson's Cause here, and in 1862 J. E. B. Stuart received his Major General's commission at the site. Most early county records were lost in the 1865 Richmond fire. The courthouse is valued as a well-preserved colonial courthouse type.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Colonial Virginia courthouse type","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in very good condition and still serving its original function as a courthouse; owned by Hanover County.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:51:56.99502-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/91/6811/41681191/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/69000247.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/69000247/72bca52ebc-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/69000247/72bca52ebc-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Erechtheus","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HanoverCourthouseandMemorial.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Erechtheus</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HanoverCourthouseandMemorial.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"71000980","name":"Hanover County Courthouse Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/virginia/hanover-county-courthouse-historic-district-71000980/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41681191","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover_County_Courthouse","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14712462"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/hanover-county/hanover-county-courthouse-69000247/"}