Carr's Hill
Also known as: University of Virginia President's House; Vdhr # 002-5082
Why it's listed
Carr's Hill is a roughly four-acre complex overlooking the University of Virginia's Academical Village, built around the President's House. The red brick Colonial Revival mansion, begun in 1906 by Stanford White of McKim, Mead and White and continued after his death by William Kendall, has a double-height Doric portico, a slate roof and a center-hall plan with detailed Classical Revival interiors. The grounds also hold a guest cottage, the Leake Cottage, a small 1856 cottage nicknamed Buckingham Palace, a landscape setting and two iron capitals salvaged from the Rotunda Annex after the 1895 fire. The property was listed for its architecture and for its link to the university's change from faculty governance to a president, a post established in 1904 with Edwin Alderman as the first holder in 1905. The house has served as the residence of the university's presidents since then, and its period of significance runs from 1856 to 1957.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its architecture, designed by McKim, Mead and White, and for its association with the university presidency created in 1904. Edwin Alderman became the first University President in 1905. The house physically represents the shift from Jefferson's faculty-run governance to a presidential system.
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 08000340, listed April 23, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1910 Carr's Hill Rd., Charlottesville |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | April 23, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000340 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1957 |
| Architect / builder | McKim, Mead and White |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Southern Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still serves as the University of Virginia President's House, with other buildings used as guest houses. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Rugby Road-University Corner Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.03798, -78.50386 (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 08000340.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712131
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.