Virginia University of Lynchburg
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
Virginia University of Lynchburg occupies a 6.82-acre campus in the Seminary Hill neighborhood of southern Lynchburg, a traditionally African American area. Founded in 1888 as a Baptist seminary, it grew into a college led by African Americans. Three historic brick buildings remain: Graham Hall (1917), a one-story former dining hall; Humbles Hall (1920-21), a two-story Beaux Arts building with corner towers, terra-cotta trim and a 900-seat auditorium; and the Mary Jane Cachelin Memorial Science and Library Building (1946). A limestone bust of president Gregory W. Hayes, erected after his death in 1906, stands where Hayes Hall once stood. Hayes resisted white control of the school and kept academic courses in the curriculum despite pressure to teach only trades. Humbles Hall was designed by Romulus C. Archer, Jr., a Washington, D.C., African American architect. The campus is recognized for its role in Black education and for its architecture.
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 | 1888-1960 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Beaux Arts; Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Black, Architecture |
| Acreage | 6.8 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | Virginia University of Lynchburg (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.