Pine Knot
Why it's listed
Pine Knot is a plain, balloon-framed wooden lodge of about 1905 in a wooded part of Albemarle County, Virginia, near Glendower. It has two stories, one room deep, weatherboard siding, stone piers, rough slate end chimneys and a two-story shed-roofed porch supported by tree trunks. Inside, the framing is still exposed, and the fireplaces have stone slab mantels. Edith Roosevelt bought the fifteen-acre tract with a small cabin in May 1905 as a rural retreat for her husband, President Theodore Roosevelt. He visited several times through May 1908, hunting, hiking, riding and watching birds, and once drafted his annual message to Congress there. His last visit included the naturalist John Burroughs, and together they identified seventy-five bird species. The property was listed for its association with the development of presidential retreats and with Roosevelt himself. The Roosevelt family sold it in 1941, and it has since been protected by an easement.
Significance in brief: The property was the Virginia country retreat of President Theodore Roosevelt between 1905 and 1908. Under Criterion A it is tied to the effort to give a president privacy, as the first twentieth-century presidential retreat established close to the capital. Under Criterion B it is tied to Roosevelt, described as the first conservationist to serve as president.
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 88003211, listed February 1, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 712, Glendower |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | February 1, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88003211 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1908 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building remains as originally built, with an unfinished interior and no modern conveniences; the form lists its current function as a camp. The land is protected by a preservation easement donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. |
| Acreage | 90 |
| Within district | Southern Albemarle Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.85236, -78.52222 (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 88003211.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7195238
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.