Varney's Falls Dam
Also known as: VDHR File No. 11-68; James River and Kanawha Canal Historic D
Why it's listed
Beside the James River in Botetourt County stand the stone remains of a guard lock, guard wall and dam abutment built for the James River and Kanawha Canal. Contractor Charles Scott of Lynchburg received the contract in 1848, and the work was finished around 1851 using local grey limestone. The lock chamber is 100 feet long between gate recesses and 15 feet wide, with dressed, coursed ashlar walls that still carry masons' marks. A wooden crib dam once crossed the river, but the railroad pulled it out in 1881 and removed the lock gates in 1885. The stonework survived nearly intact, along with stretches of towpath, a stone culvert and an abutment of a towpath bridge about one and one-eighth miles upstream. It was listed as the best-preserved of the stone structures on the canal between Lynchburg and Buchanan, and for its value in engineering and transportation history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the best-preserved of the stone guard lock and dam structures on the canal's Second Division between Lynchburg and Buchanan. It shows the skill of canal construction and retains rare surviving towpath features. It is argued significant for engineering and transportation under Criteria A and C.
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 93001127, listed October 14, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 mi. E of jct. of VA 608 and VA 609 on the James R., Gillmore Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Botetourt County |
| Listed | October 14, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001127 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1848-1881 |
| Architect / builder | Scott, Charles |
| Architectural style | OTHER: stone lock |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current function is not in use; the stonework is described as remarkably preserved and in excellent condition, with the wooden dam and gates removed in 1881 and 1885. |
| Acreage | 61 |
| Coordinates | 37.57876, -79.59675 (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 93001127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16902559
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.