Toombs, Robert, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Set on East Robert Toombs Avenue in Washington, Georgia, this house grew in stages. Its oldest section is a two-story plantation-plain house built in 1797 by Dr. Joel Abbott. A central body in the Federal style, probably added by William L. Harris, dates to the mid-1830s. A large Doric portico, raised on a daylight basement, was later added across the front, and a kitchen wing and Victorian side porch followed about 1870. Inside, the details are mostly Federal, including parlor mantels framed by columns and an elliptical arch in the entrance hall. Robert Augustus Toombs bought the house from Harris for $6000 with 136 acres. Toombs was a Georgia legislator, congressman, senator, Confederate Secretary of State and brigadier general. He escaped Federal troops from the back of the house in 1864 and died here in 1885. Old cedars, magnolias and oaks surround the house, and a worn herringbone brick walk leads to the portico.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Robert Toombs, Georgia's "unreconstructed rebel," who served in Congress and as a Confederate officer. It is also significant for its architecture: a monumental Greek Revival portico fronts earlier buildings, and the house and grounds together keep a strong sense of the past.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000410, listed April 11, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 216 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkes County |
| Listed | April 11, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000410 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries; specific dates 1797, c. 1835, 1840, c. 1870 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. Joel Abbott built the original 1797 house; William L. Harris probably added the central body. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival portico on an earlier Federal-style house |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 7, 1973 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in fair condition, unaltered and on its original site; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Washington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.73652, -82.73384 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000410.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7350429
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.