Poplar Forest (Boundary Decrease and Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Vdhr Id 009-0027
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Poplar Forest is a one-story brick house of octagonal plan set on a high basement, with Tuscan porticoes on the entrance and rear facades. Thomas Jefferson designed and built it on his Bedford County plantation as a retreat from the social pressures of Monticello. Construction began in 1806 and continued as late as 1819, and Jefferson visited up to four times a year, often staying a month. The interior has four elongated octagonal rooms around a square central hall once lit from above. A kitchen, a smokehouse and two octagonal privies hidden by artificial mounds survive on the grounds. A fire in 1845 gutted the house, and the rebuilding did not restore the original decoration, skylight or roof balustrade. Only the walls, chimneys and possibly the columns are original, yet the house is regarded as among Jefferson's most important designs and was described by him as inferior only to Monticello. Its listing rests on that architectural and personal connection.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an intensely personal example of Jefferson's architectural taste, second only to Monticello, showing his fondness for compact forms and geometric shapes. It also notes that a fire in 1845 and the later rebuilding significantly reduced the building's importance, since only the walls, chimneys and possibly the columns are original.
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 100012286, listed September 24, 2025. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford (city and county) |
| Listed | September 24, 2025 |
| Reference number | 100012286 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Jefferson (designer and builder) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture, Ethnic Heritage-Black, Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government, Archeology-Historic Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 11, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered, on its original site; the 1969 form records the house as a private residence and occupied. |
| Acreage | 590 |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 100012286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.