Faulkner House
Also known as: Seymour; Montesano; Garallen; Old Ivy Inn
Why it's listed
Set on a low ridge overlooking the University of Virginia, this two-story brick country house began in 1855-56 as a Greek Revival residence for Addison Maupin, who kept one of the university's dining halls. Its central block has an unusual double-pile plan in which the rear rooms are inset from the front. During the Civil War, in March 1865, it briefly served as headquarters for Union General Thomas Devin. In 1906 U.S. Senator Thomas S. Martin, a powerful Virginia Democratic leader, bought the property and hired Washington architect Waddy B. Wood to remodel it in 1907. Wood added flanking wings and a monumental Doric portico, while carefully matching original trim so that old and new work are hard to tell apart. The university bought the house in 1962 and named it for novelist William Faulkner, who taught there as a lecturer but never lived in it. Since 1975 it has housed the Miller Center of Public Affairs.
Significance in brief: The house is an important example of Albemarle County's antebellum rural architecture, later enlarged in the Colonial Revival manner by Washington architect Waddy B. Wood. It was the home of U.S. Senator Thomas S. Martin, a leader of Virginia's Democratic Party machine, and briefly served as Union General Thomas Devin's headquarters in 1865. It is named for novelist William Faulkner, who taught at the university.
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 84003484, listed May 3, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2201 Old Ivy Rd., Charlottesville |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | May 3, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003484 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-56; 1907 (specific dates; periods checked 1800-1899 and 1900-) |
| Architect / builder | Waddy B. Wood (1907 enlargement and remodeling); built for Addison Maupin |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; original Greek Revival house remodeled in Colonial Revival style |
| Areas of significance | Military, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the University of Virginia and occupied; headquarters of the Miller Center of Public Affairs since 1975. Outbuilding cottages are rented to university employees. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.04767, -78.51391 (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 84003484.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712315
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.