{"nrhp_refnum":"83003283","name":"Farmers Bank of Fredericksburg","other_names":["The National Bank of Fredericksburg"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"900 Princess Anne St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Fredericksburg (Independent City)","county":"Fredericksburg","state":"VA","lat":38.30237522200008,"lon":-77.46070301599997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1983-08-11","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A 2½-story Federal Style red brick bank building at 900 Princess Anne Street in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, built 1819-1820 by Robert and George Ellis for the Farmers Bank of Fredericksburg.","why_significant":"The nomination presents it as a refined example of a Federal Style commercial building that has served almost continuously as a banking house. Its residential portion was the boyhood home of Captain William Lewis Herndon, a celebrated Navy hero. During the Civil War it served as Union headquarters, and President Lincoln addressed troops and citizens from its steps on April 22, 1862.","narrative":"Built in 1819-1820 at 900 Princess Anne Street, this red brick building was constructed by Robert and George Ellis for the Farmers Bank of Fredericksburg. The symmetrical 2½-story Federal Style structure has Flemish-bond brickwork, a slate roof, and a public banking entrance with fluted Doric engaged columns, contrasted with a private family entrance under a semi-elliptical fanlight. The bank occupied the front of the main floor, while cashiers and their families lived in the rear and upstairs rooms until 1920. Dabney Herndon, the first cashier, raised a family here that included Captain William Lewis Herndon, an Amazon explorer and national hero who died in the 1857 loss of his steamer after saving women and children. During the Civil War Union forces used the building as headquarters, and Lincoln spoke from its steps in April 1862. The National Bank of Fredericksburg bought it in 1865 and still operates a branch there. Drive-in additions have not altered its essential appearance.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899","architect_builder":"Robert and George Ellis","architectural_style":"Federal Style","criteria":[],"status_note":"Occupied and in good condition; still used as a full-service bank branch, having been the main office of The National Bank from 1865 until 1975. Later drive-in windows and additions on the north and west sides are noted as not violating its original design.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:51:57.122174-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/43/6808/41680843/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/83003283.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/83003283/2439d9f0d2-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/83003283/2439d9f0d2-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Justinandsarah","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Farmers_Bank_of_Fredericksburg_900_Princess_Anne_Street.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Justinandsarah</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Farmers_Bank_of_Fredericksburg_900_Princess_Anne_Street.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41680843","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers_Bank_of_Fredericksburg","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15217383"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/fredericksburg/farmers-bank-of-fredericksburg-83003283/"}