Kimberling Lutheran Cemetery
The National Park Service has not published a boundary polygon for this district; the map shows the listed properties inside it and the district's reference point.
Why it's listed
Kimberling Lutheran Cemetery occupies about three acres on a steep, cleared hillside overlooking the rolling country of western Wythe County. It contains roughly fifty sandstone gravestones dating from 1800 to 1850, making it one of a few places in Southwest Virginia with a notable group of early German markers. Many inscriptions have weathered away. The stones are typically decorated on the reverse with a single high-relief motif, such as hearts, upside-down anchors, fylfot crosses, six-pointed stars, ladder-like devices or plant forms. Inscriptions are almost entirely in English, showing how local Germans were adopting Anglo-American customs while keeping traditional religious symbols. The last stone using those motifs dates from 1850. The congregation's first church was dedicated in 1797. The present large frame church, the third on the site, was built in 1913 with two towers, Gothic-style openings and pressed-tin shingles. The cemetery remains in use today.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (cemetery from 1800; church 1913) |
|---|---|
| Styles | Frame church with "Gothic" window and door openings; Germanic folk-art gravestones |
| Areas of significance | Art, European, Exploration/Settlement, Religion |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | Kimberling Lutheran Cemetery (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.