Lewis-Smith House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house in Raleigh was built shortly after 1854 for Dr. Augustus M. Lewis, who served in the General Assembly. It is a Greek Revival dwelling with a hip roof, a three-bay front, and a two-tier portico with Doric columns below and Ionic columns above. A bracketed cornice wraps the main block, and the center-hall interior keeps its Greek Revival mantels, plaster medallions, and elaborate gas-era chandeliers. Early twentieth-century two-story bays were added on each side. From 1912 it was the home of Charles Lee Smith, an educator, author, and president of the Edwards and Broughton Printing Company, who gathered a large rare-book library. The house is one of only two major Greek Revival dwellings left in Raleigh. State government clearance in the early 1970s left it isolated, so in June 1974 it was moved across Wilmington Street to a site facing North Blount Street, where it remains in a similar residential setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it significant to Raleigh both historically and architecturally. It is one of only two major surviving Greek Revival dwellings in the city, with a distinctive Doric-Ionic double portico and a well-preserved Greek Revival interior. It was also the home of Charles Lee Smith, a prominent educator and publisher, from 1912.
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 72001001, listed December 11, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. Blount St., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | December 11, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001001 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Dr. Augustus M. Lewis (appears to have built the house) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained and in excellent condition. It was moved in June 1974 to avoid demolition for a state government center, and the move appears to have caused no damage to its architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Oakwood Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.78570, -78.63529 (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 72001001.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.