Twin Houses
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
Two identical two-story frame houses, joined by a one-story transverse hall, make up this unusual dwelling near Shawboro in Currituck County. Each house is five bays wide and two deep, with a brick foundation, brick end chimneys and Federal-style mantels inside. The western house appears to have been built first, with the eastern one added in front of it soon afterward. John Perkins built the property before 1797, and a record from that year describing the division of his estate hints that the twin arrangement may already have existed. In 1858 it was bought by Dr. Henry Muchmore Shaw, who later commanded the 8th North Carolina Regiment and was killed on Roanoke Island in 1864; a Confederate battery was named for him. The house stayed in the Shaw family until 1897. It is considered significant as one of the county's oldest houses and a well-preserved Federal building whose paired layout is apparently unique in North Carolina.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is among the oldest houses in Currituck County and a well-preserved Federal structure. Its arrangement of two nearly contemporary, identical houses joined with one directly in front of the other is apparently unique in North Carolina. It is also tied to Col. Henry M. Shaw, a Confederate officer killed in 1864.
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 72000959, listed April 13, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | On NC 168 at jct. of SR 1203 and 1147, Shawboro |
|---|---|
| County | Currituck County |
| Listed | April 13, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000959 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | John Perkins (builder, before 1797) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 36.40932, -76.09743 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 72000959.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18217548
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.