First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1885 on a knoll at the corner of Main and Fifth streets in Highlands, North Carolina, this small frame church rises on a raised basement of stone piers. Local master carpenter Marion Wright built it on land donated in 1883, with funds given by Margaretta Ravenel and Clarissa Burt in memory of their sister. The church has a steep gable roof, a square belfry with bracketed eaves, and a weatherboarded exterior with a segmentally arched entrance. Its interior is sheathed in horizontal beaded boards, and the sanctuary retains its box-style pews. The church was the first built in Highlands, a resort town founded in the 1870s, and it reflects the founders' wish for a religious presence in the community. The building is recognized for its Italianate detailing, its craftsmanship, and its integrity, and it has changed little on the exterior since construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for social history as the first church built in the resort town of Highlands, founded in the 1870s to offer a religious presence for seasonal visitors. It also argues the building is significant as a carpenter-built example of Italianate design shaped by picturesque ideas, with a high degree of architectural integrity.
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 96000925, listed August 22, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 471 Main St., Highlands |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | August 22, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000925 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Wright, Marion (builder); Parker, Thomas F. (designer) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states that all buildings were in good shape in the 1990s and that the congregation remains active. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.05175, -83.19649 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 96000925.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453587
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.