Moss Neck Manor
Also known as: VDHR File #16-18
Why it's listed
Moss Neck Manor is a large brick plantation house on a wooded bluff overlooking the Rappahannock River in Caroline County, Virginia. James Parke Corbin had it built in the 1850s, and it was finished around 1856, after the family's colonial seat, Laneville, burned in 1843. The house has a two-story center block, long connecting hyphens and pedimented end wings, stretching 225 feet along its main façades. Fluted Roman Doric columns, an octagonal cupola and precise Flemish bond brickwork give it an air of restrained grandeur. The builders are unknown. In the winter of 1862-63, General Stonewall Jackson made his headquarters on the plantation, choosing an office outbuilding over the house itself. After years of neglect, Theodore V. Houser bought the property in 1938 and modernized the interior, adding plumbing, heating, electricity and later woodwork, while leaving the exterior largely intact. It is listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house ranks among Virginia's outstanding Greek Revival plantation houses, with a five-part Palladian composition, a 225-foot façade and fine Flemish bond brickwork. It was built for the prominent Corbin family and is believed to evoke their earlier seat, Laneville. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson used the plantation as winter headquarters in 1862-63.
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 99000069, listed January 27, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 766, S side of Rappahannock R., Rappahannock Academy |
|---|---|
| County | Caroline County |
| Listed | January 27, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000069 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850-1940 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th-century Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-dwelling residence; the exterior survives almost unchanged and the brickwork is in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 280 |
| Coordinates | 38.20710, -77.33000 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 99000069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712899
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.