{"nrhp_refnum":"70000881","name":"Hancock-Wirt-Caskie House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"2 N. 5th St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Richmond (Independent City)","county":"Richmond (city and county)","state":"VA","lat":37.54056076200004,"lon":-77.43996843399998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1970-04-17","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Literature","Politics/Government","Architecture","Art","Social History"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story, hipped-roof brick townhouse at 2 North Fifth Street in Richmond, Virginia, built in 1808-09 by Michael Hancock. It has a central hall plan and double three-sided bow-front projections.","why_significant":"The 1970 nomination argues that it is a sophisticated example of Federalist architecture with Latrobian traits such as low roof pitch, deep bracketed eaves and geometric forms. It is the only Richmond survivor of the three-sectioned bay motif. It is also tied to William Wirt, who finished his Life of Patrick Henry while living there before becoming U.S. Attorney General.","narrative":"Built in 1808-09 by Michael Hancock, this two-story brick house at 2 North Fifth Street in Richmond has a hipped roof, deep eaves with long narrow brackets, and a central hall plan. Its most distinctive feature is the pair of three-sectioned bow-front projections on either side of the entrance, screened by a two-level wooden porch arcade. Inside, geometric plaster and wood trim survives, including detailing in the south octagonal room. William Wirt bought the house in 1816 and lived there until 1818, when he left to serve as U.S. Attorney General. During his residence he completed his Life of Patrick Henry, an early major American biography. Later owners included Benjamin Tate and Joseph Tate, both mayors of Richmond, and the Palmer-Caskie family, whose last resident died in 1941. The house later served as Red Cross headquarters. It is regarded as a refined Federalist example and the only Richmond survivor of the bow-front motif once common in the city.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"Michael Hancock (builder)","architectural_style":"Federalist (Early Republic / Federal)","criteria":[],"status_note":"The 1970 form lists the house as occupied, in good condition, and used as Red Cross headquarters. The 2008 additional documentation lists it as a single dwelling and professional space, and describes a decade-long restoration by the present owner.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:51:57.598239-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/1/6831/41683101/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/70000881.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/70000881/fc05a1dc27-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/70000881/fc05a1dc27-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Historic American Buildings Survey","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hancock-Wirt-Caskie_HABS.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Historic American Buildings Survey</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hancock-Wirt-Caskie_HABS.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"71000982","name":"James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/virginia/james-river-and-kanawha-canal-historic-district-71000982/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41683101","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock%E2%80%93Wirt%E2%80%93Caskie_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16864806"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/richmond/hancock-wirt-caskie-house-70000881/"}