Bowman's Folly
Also known as: Montpelier
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Bowman's Folly is a plantation house in Accomack County, Virginia, set on an artificial mound that General John Cropper, Jr., had built so the house would look impressive from the house and from the water. Cropper built the present house around 1815 to replace an earlier dwelling that burned. The land was patented by Captain Edmund Bowman in 1664 and passed to Cropper's family through marriage. Cropper was born here in 1755, served under George Washington at the Battle of Brandywine, and sat in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. The two-and-a-half story gabled main block has Flemish bond brick ends, a frame front with dentil and modillion cornice, a central Palladian window, five pedimented dormers and a porch on slender Doric columns. One-and-a-half story wings, an old kitchen, a dovecote and a finely detailed privy complete the group. It was valued as an exceptional example of Eastern Shore provincial design.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an excellent example of Eastern Shore provincial architecture used on a grand scale, with a Palladian window, pedimented dormers and fine outbuildings, especially the privy. It is also tied to General John Cropper, Jr., a Revolutionary War officer and Virginia legislator, on land patented by Edmund Bowman in 1664.
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 69000216, listed November 12, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of jct. of Rtes. 652 and 13, Accomac |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Listed | November 12, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000216 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | General John Cropper, Junior (1755-1821) |
| Architectural style | Eastern Shore provincial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in fair condition, original site, and unaltered; the occupancy boxes are unclear in the OCR. |
| Coordinates | 37.69584, -75.62473 (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 69000216.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14691885
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.