Tusculum
Also known as: 005-0020
Why it's listed
Tusculum is a two-story frame house in eastern Amherst County, Virginia, built in two main phases. The north section, a side-passage plan two rooms deep, dates to the third quarter of the eighteenth century, perhaps the 1750s. A one-room-plan addition on the south was added in the early nineteenth century, possibly about 1805, and a breezeway links the two. The house has stone and brick foundations, beaded and plain weatherboards, gable-end brick chimneys, and an asphalt-shingled roof. Inside, it keeps Georgian and Federal mantels, a stair with turned walnut balusters, chair rails, and early roof framing with pit-sawn timbers and wrought nails. The nomination describes its integrity as very good, with the main loss being the original west entry porch, replaced by a small wing in the mid-twentieth century. The nominated area covers only the house footprint because the house is to be moved to a new site in Amherst County under preservation ownership.
Significance in brief: The visible portion of the nomination argues for local significance based on the house's architecture and its well-preserved early fabric, including Georgian and Federal mantels, stair detail, and early framing. The Section 8 statement of significance is missing from the truncated text, so the full argument cannot be stated. The documentation mentions connections to families who lived there around 1900 and to Sweet Briar history through its bibliography.
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 04001244, listed November 19, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2077 N. Amherst Hwy. (US 29), Amherst |
|---|---|
| County | Amherst County |
| Listed | November 19, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian; Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as work in progress. The house is to be moved from its site, and the nominated area is limited to the house footprint. The mantels were placed in storage off site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.63640, -78.99716 (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 04001244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713389
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.