Clarendon School
Also known as: Matthew Maury Elementary School; Arlington Arts Center
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Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 at 3550 Wilson Boulevard, this two-and-a-half-story brick school served the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington County for sixty-three years as its only elementary school, teaching grades one through six. Richmond architect Charles M. Robinson gave it Classical Revival features, including projecting front bays with enclosed pediments, Palladian windows, and a wood portico with paired Tuscan columns. M. W. Gayle of Newport News was the builder, and the school board docked his pay over construction flaws. It opened in September 1910 with 298 students and was renamed Matthew Maury School in 1944. A rear addition followed in 1954. The school closed in 1973, stood vacant for four years, and was renovated in 1977 as the Arlington Arts Center, which uses former classrooms as studios and hallways as galleries. It is the second oldest surviving school building in the county and was recognized for its contributions to education and architecture.
Significance in brief: The school reflects the growth of public education in Arlington County during the 20th century. It served Clarendon as its sole elementary school for sixty-three years, until 1973. It is also a well-preserved example of Classical Revival school design by Charles M. Robinson, a noted Virginia school architect.
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 99001502, listed December 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3550 Wilson Bvd., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | December 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001502 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Charles M. Robinson (architect); M. W. Gayle (builder) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a school in 1973, vacant for four years, then renovated in 1977 and now used as the Arlington Arts Center with studios and gallery space. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Ashton Heights Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.88180, -77.10197 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 99001502.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5126881
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.